Michael John O’Neill’s ‘This is paradise’ returns to the Traverse theatre in Edinburgh this year. This poetic, soulful monologue takes you through the inner turmoil of Kate as she desperately seeks inner peace parallel to the peace Northern Ireland is promised to gain from The Good Friday Agreement. Playing the Traverse Theatre until 28th August.
10 April 1998, Belfast. The Good Friday Agreement is signed, promising peace to Northern Ireland. Across the city, Kate receives a call from a desperate young woman, compelling her to return to a relationship she left in another life, and embark upon a journey which risks the uneasy peace she has since made for herself. A powerful, intimate, dream-like monologue shimmering with the vibrancy of life, This is Paradise explores what happens when one woman is asked to rescue the man who promised to destroy her – and how we can begin again.
Amy Molloy is a formidable force as Kate. Amy keeps the audience encapsulated in her performance. She keeps the audience entertained by using stylised movement and gestures. This stylised movement is paired with her naturalistic approach to the delivery of the text. She has done well to differentiate her body language and tone as she portrays her conversations with others within the monologue. Her intonation allows the audience’s ears to prick up as she delivers the natural poetic rhythm of the writing. Amy gives a gritty, raw and emotive performance which should be celebrated.
Michael John O’Neill’s writing is full of imagery and poetic nuances which build the story and lends to the audience’s imagination. The intense descriptiveness of the text builds the world around Kate and lends to the simplicity of the set and performance. Exploring the role of each prominent male figure in Kate’s life really magnifies male protectiveness and a woman’s urge to nurture. Driver is undoubtedly toxic and has a hold over Kate. Many may criticise the writing due to the strength of Kate as a woman, begging the question… Why would Driver still have a hold over a happily married strong woman? The psychological manipulation she faced at a young age paired with the need to “fix” broken men is a strong combination which is mirrored in everyday life by strong women. The writing at times seems drawn out and could be edited to allow for a faster paced monologue as sometimes parallels between Kate’s personal trauma and the troubles seemed almost forced. Sometimes less is more in terms of having a stronger impact on the audience.
Overall this is a poignant, powerful production which asks what does the end of violence do for a body that won’t stop breaking. The play ends on a positive note when Kate gives birth, avoiding her much feared miscarraige from her broken body. The troubles left a scarred nation, struggling to heal. How do you rebuild life as a nation and a civilian and carry through the trauma suffered? When we focus on the impact on the soldiers and fighters, the damage to the city, have we overlooked those civilians who were in turmoil in the midst of it all?
Get tickets below:
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/this-is-paradise
This review was delayed due to technical difficulties.
Theatre Scotland 
Leave a comment