Paul T Davies reviews Eugene O'Brien's play Heaven at the Traverse Theatre presented as part of the Edinburgh Fringe.
Andrew Bennett and Janet Moran. Photo: Raymond Davies Heaven
Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh Festival Fringe
9 August 2023
4 Stars
Mairead and Mal return to her home town for a wedding and their secret desires become exposed, revealing the cracks in their long relationship. She sleeps with an old flame, deciding to leave with him. A closeted homosexual, Mal finds intimate moments with a wedding guest that also fulfil his Jesus desires. Falling off the wagon and indulging in drugs and alcohol, Mal too comes to a decision.
Eugene O'Brien's play is inspired by Brian Friel, and uses the great Irish play structure of alternating monologues, each character speaking to us directly. As Mairead, Janet Moran is unafraid to lean into the less likeable aspects of her character, flaws and all, yet evokes sympathy for the years of lost passion. Andrew Bennett is superb as Mal, a decent man trying to live his life within the strict teachings of the church, being offered a final chance to live an authentic life.
Beautifully written, their voices seduce the audience into listening, and layers are revealed with excellent timing.
Read also Review No Love Songs Traverse Theatre Edinburgh Fringe
Paul is a playwright, director, actor, academic, (he has a PhD from the University of East Anglia), teacher and theatre reviewer! His plays include Living with Luke, (UK tour 2016), Play Something, (Edinburgh Festival Fringe/Drayton Arms Theatre, London 2018), , (2019), and now The Miner’s Crow, which won the inaugural Artist’s Pick of the Fringe Award at the first ever Colchester Fringe Festival 2021. In lockdown 2020 he created the audio series Isolation Alan, available on Youtube, and performed online in the Voice Box Festival. He is the founder member of Stage Write, a Colchester based theatre company, and his acting roles include Rupert in How We Love by Annette Brook, first performed at the Vaults Festival 2020 and revived at the Arcola and at Theatre Peckham in 2021. Follow: @stagewrite_
Stay in the spotlight
Get the latest theatre news, reviews and exclusive offers straight to your inbox.
