More than a hundred years after its establishment by Lady Augusta Gregory and WB Yeats, the Abbey Theatre in Dublin sees the captivating premiere of Gregory’s 1912 play, Grania. It offers a daring representation of feminine power and the potent entanglements of desire and jealousy. The director of this renewed production, Caitríona McLaughlin, impressively masters the challenging recreation of the timeless love triangle involving Gráinne, Diarmuid, and Fionn Mac Cumhaill.
The grand love narrative of Grania is revived anew, enhanced by the mesmerizing stage setting and the addition of Seán Boylan’s and Laura Sheeran’s gripping singing performances. Grania, portrayed elegantly by Ella Lily Hyland, was initially betrothed to the towering leader of the Fianna, Finn, performed by Lorcan Cranitch. Yet she is drawn to Finn’s devoted warrior Diarmuid, brought to life by Niall Wright. As the narrative unfolds, we watch Grania and Diarmuid’s desperate escape from Finn’s fury, a reckless decision that culminates in heart-wrenching tragedy.
Their seven-year-long pursuit through the wilderness is ingeniously depicted with imaginative visuals representing the changing seasons, grippingly embodied by Boylan and Sheeran. The play also experiments with elements like fire and smoke, although Grania’s pivotal love confession scene in the first act is somewhat marred as the expected blaze fails to ignite.
In a bucolic setting, the unclothed duo of Wright and Hyland inject new vigour and gentleness into the narration crafted by Gregory. Giving in to allure finally, Diarmuid successfully catches a fish for supper, while Grania, merrily cavorting in a sea-nymph like manner, attempts to lure him towards her side. Hyland’s presence on the stage and comical execution elevate the play’s confident title character from merely paperbound to a resolute, revenge-driven exit, right from her ghostly entrance.
In Gregory’s view, the sole protagonist of this heartbreaking tale is Love, shadowed closely by Jealousy. It is this “shade of jealousy” that strongly arises in this performance; this effect is brought to the surface through Cranitch and Wright’s act. The performance spans from high-energy melee scenes to a fervent farewell smooch, and the electrical connection between the pair is demonstrable, leading you to believe in the potency of their relationship stained with jealousy, possibly outshining even that of Diarmuid and Grania.
Enhanced by Colin Richmond’s distinct set design and the illumination by Sinéad Wallace, this sophisticated show pays tribute to Lady Gregory’s poetic original play while escalating the conflict among its three celebrated characters to unexplored limits.
The performance is ongoing at the Abbey, as a component of Dublin Theatre Festival, scheduled until Saturday, October 26th.