An intrigued audience gathered in the Crucible Theatre last night to watch Brian Friel\u2019s Dancing at Lughnasa, marking the start of Elizabeth Newman\u2019s tenure as Artistic Director of Sheffield Theatres. This isn\u2019t necessary the big statement piece you might expect to open the first season from a new Artistic Director. It is a small and intimate household drama, set in rural Ireland in 1936. The play does, however, discuss topics that still feel very relevant today \u2013 particularly ideas around conflicting religions and how that should affect the way individuals live their lives.<\/p>\n
Elizabeth Newman, directing the piece, manages to take this relatively small story and fill the large Crucible stage \u2013 if anything, at times, the stage feels a little cramped and she struggles to keep different locations separate. She leads her talented cast in creating an interesting mix of human characters.<\/p>\n
Kwaku Fortune acts as a narrator of sorts, in the role of child Michael. For the most part, Fortune voices Michael but his co-stars interact with an invisible child. Initially, this is quite confusing and feels a little strange \u2013 having a child on stage as a younger Michael with Fortune delivering the monologues from an older Michael\u2019s perspective might have worked well, especially given much of the play is very much routed in reality. Fortune does deliver very long and wordy monologues admirably, drawing in audience members on all three sides of the stage.<\/p>\n
Martha Dunlea as Michael\u2019s mother, Chris, gives a lovely performance, showing both smitten love and heartbreak beautifully. She has a gorgeous and believable chemistry with Marcus Rutherford as Gerry, the father of her child. We want this relationship to succeed, despite other characters disapproving of the relationship.<\/p>\n
Natalie Radmall-Quirke as Kate is the main voice of disapproval throughout the play. She portrays the strong Catholic woman, the woman who really cares about her public perception, really well. She contrasts the other women in our central group of single women very well.<\/p>\n
Siobhan O\u2019Kelly is a highlight of the production as Maggie. She has impeccable comic timing, adding much needed humour to the show. Laura Pyper portrays Agnes, a caring woman who is struggling to balance life authentically and staying civil with those around her, brilliantly. She has a lovely rapport with Rachel O\u2019Connell\u2019s Rose. O\u2019Connell starts the play with a likeable childlike innocence, before seemingly having her heart broken \u2013 but we never find out exactly what happens to her when she goes to see her lover in the second act.<\/p>\n
Dancing at Lughnasa, despite feeling quite long, is an enjoyable play that asks questions about relevant topics, whilst not telling us exactly what we should think. We\u2019re looking forward to seeing what plans Elizabeth Newman has up her sleeve for the rest of the upcoming season of productions.<\/p>\n
**** Four stars<\/p>\n
Reviewed by: Jacob Bush<\/p>\n