“The Final Gem
At the Space Upstairs in the Project Arts Centre, Dublin, The Last Pearl makes its theatrical appearance, securing a four out of five-star rating. A curious query arises for those familiar with Blue Raincoat’s previous works of dramatic exploration; who does this tale revolve around? The troupe is widely known for their narrative portrayals of adventurers like Yuri Gagarin, Ernest Shackleton and others from the British Antarctic Expedition.
However, director Niall Henry and the group have deviated from historical figures, opting for a fictional deep-sea diver on a quest for pearls. This notable shift from the 20th-century exploration stories places the narrative within the realm of modern concerns. The stage is a canvas on which actors send waves skimming down a large piece of sea-tinted fabric, an image that metamorphoses into a swelling storm of ocean waves and threatening claps of thunder.
Through intricate movements, the five-member cast manipulate tiny puppet characters in concise, enlightening vignettes that progress as if comics panels. Images shift from wide-angle shots of boats sailing in open ocean to a community of stilted houses on the shoreline. Details referring to architectural and weather-related incidents suggest an Indo-Pacific setting. However, in the current climate emergency, the looming menace of ecological disaster looms globally.
As we witness the diver’s intense underwater plunge and sweep through littered human remnants, we are enticed by the romance of being far from the terrestrial world. Yet, with sensitivity, Henry permits a close glimpse into her universe, reuniting us with her domicile, unveiling her love for the coastal community, and hinting at her expectancy. ”
The tale of Anthony Boyle’s father being harassed by a British soldier who would drench his gear in a puddle during his daily Gaelic exercise sessions is a curious one. There is something intimate about this interaction, which reflects Blue Raincoat’s recent transition to silent puppet theatre performances. These shows have been breathtaking, particularly the genius lighting technique employed by Barry McKinney. He miraculously transforms flowing fabric into an image of crashing sea waves during a phantasmal typhoon scene that tears through the village.
The narrative could easily have swerved towards the consequential despair of the diver, the solo survivor of this catastrophe, lamenting the loss of her tribe. However, the plot takes a different path. Accompanied by the rhythmic strumming of Joe Hunt’s expressive music, she battles the waves, diving deep to recover her people’s emblems. Despite the devastation, the ethos and culture of her people perseveres.
It’s hard to ignore the thought-provoking character that the protagonist embodies within the Blue Raincoat repertoire. Her act of scattering treasures among the seabed for future generations, particularly her own progeny, to unearth, gives us a hopeful representation of a world that has witnessed calamity. Moreover, it serves as a testament to the undying nature of human curiosity.
The Last Pearl, a production by Blue Raincoat, is running at the Project Arts Centre in Dublin until May 11th, after which it will be moving to the Tron Theatre in Glasgow from May 30th to June 1st. It will then continue its tour at the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh from June 6th to June 8th.