Hirschy Highlight: Dozing at Lughnasa

I was a little worried about seeing this show. I had somewhat higher hopes as the show reminded me of Little Women more than I would care to admit. But, it also had a few cast members from Derry Girls (my roommate is JEALOUS!). I absolutely adored the set. I thought the set had a really nice forced perspective that added a really balanced stage focus. I also really loved the direction and execution of ideas when staging Michael.

When Michael speaks his dialogue, he is looking at the other person in the conversation, while the person in the conversation is living out their life from Michael’s past. It truly is a memory play, and the scenes of dialogue make that point very clear. I don’t think the plot of the show was difficult to follow specifically because of the direction that was used in this show.

I also really liked at the end – which I didn’t notice on my own but was brought to my attention – the shadows that were cast on Michael when he delivered his final monologue. I’m not sure if they were to represent his past, present, and future selves coming together to talk to the audience one last time or if there was another desired effect. From my seat in the audience, I could not see these shadows, so I’m wondering if it was an accidental result that came from the lighting or if the purposeful lighting can only be seen in particular seats.

Another thing that was pointed out to me was the mouse! At first, I thought the cockroach from the Met made an appearance! But, alas, I was wrong. I believe there was a rigged mouse that ran across the floor near the sink during Michael’s final monologue! I’m not entirely sure of the purpose of this, though. I was trying to find a reason, but it only made me more confused.

The acting, the direction, and specifically the set has my heart with this show. Everything else, I’m not over the moon about. To set the picture, I was jumping up and down, waiting for our bus after getting off the airport. With this show, I was fighting the sleep demons the whole first act. After the initial breaking into the dance scene, the show really picked up and was much easier to follow. I think the accents may have been the initial barrier to enjoying the play as well, as after 20 or so minutes, I could understand what they were saying. But, I do feel as though I missed a lot of the jokes with solid punchlines that everyone else seemed to get except me.

The show wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t my favorite. I think the script itself has a few open-ended plot points that I would prefer to be tied up, and that is no fault to the actors or directors. The set itself was breathtaking. I was so focussed on the grass and how their shoes would sink into the grass as if it was cushiony. I want to know what they made that out of! Further, I want to touch it – badly. The stone tiles of the house and the use of no doors, I thought, were very clever. I think the actors did an amazing job creating the sense of a house with four walls. I loved the faces of the characters peeking out the windows as if there were flat walls that they couldn’t see past as well. The detail of the set and the direction of the characters were so well done; I just wish the script could have given the actors more justice.