No strangers to the Traverse stage, Sligo theatre company Blue Raincoat returned for three performances of their latest work, The Last Pearl, that is loosely based on the ideas of the scientist and environmentalist James Lovelock. The piece is the fourth in a series of devised works that include Shackleton, The School Days of Thaddeus K and Hunting Darwin, and was first presented in Sligo in Autumn 2022.
In a departure from their style of physical theatre with the likes of their adaptations of the work of their fellow countryman, Flann O’Brien, The Last Pearl, like Shackleton before it, uses scale models along with bunraku and shadow puppetry. This apparent departure should be no surprise from a company whose base discipline focuses on physical training and the ability to do things in different styles. As ever, the consummate skills of Blue Raincoat, Ireland’s longest running theatre ensemble, come in to fabulous play.
Haunting cello notes set the tone of this tale of a solitary woman who inhabits one of the high stilted houses by the sea where she also works for a living at a time when her already vulnerable environment is threatened by elements beyond her control. Taking the trope of a waving a sheet of material to create the illusion of the sea to a different level of skill, this team mesmerises with the slow build-up of waves on a satin sea. These considered skills create credible confluence and storm where paper boats (worthy of George Wyllie!) are tossed and blown.
Between the sea scenes, high window shutters at the back of the stage are opened to reveal a woman silhouetted in front of a pearl light passing items with slow considered movements from one basket to another. Over the piece, it becomes clear that the woman is pregnant and in time the silhouette includes a baby, whose growing hands start to handle a toy boat, and so is being introduced to their shared and challenging life.
Shown with wordless reverence throughout, the woman in puppet form goes about her underwater work dipping in and out of the dark as she is beautifully manipulated by the black clad puppeteers – John Carty; Sandra O’Malley; Brian F Devaney; Aíne Ni Laoghaire and Aisling Mannion – and where the mother’s skills are passed on to the child who now swims alongside.
A star studded backdrop, part of Jamie Vartan’s spare but apposite design, that may overlap with Barry McKinney’s shadowy lighting design for this section, subtly moves forward as the piece progresses with the soundscape from Joe Hunt adding atmosphere to an already arresting piece of work to which Blue Raincoat’s Artistic Director Niall Henry once again brings his skills.
This is a thoughtful and exquisite piece of ensemble work that holds a universal message of adapting to change and is a privilege to witness. Haste ye back, Blue Raincoat!
Irene Brown
Radio Summerhall Arts 