Powerful two-hander that premiered in Galway explores grief and offers redemption
For most parents, the death of a child is their worst nightmare and it's that nightmare that's explored in Lot Vekemans' award-winning play, 'Poison' from Once Off Productions, which received its Irish premiere in Druid's Mick Lally Theatre last week.
Rachel O'Byrne and Naoise Dunbar play an unnamed Dutch couple who last saw each other nearly a decade ago, their relationship having fractured after their son, Jakob's death.
Her husband's departure from their home on New Year's Eve nine years previously is as indelibly imprinted on his wife's mind as the moment she witnessed their child being hit by a vehicle - her husband was working when it happened. That's one of the points of friction between them as they wait in the graveyard where their son is buried; they are there to meet an official and learn about plans to move its occupants, due to the discovery of poison in the ground.
'Poison' is a short, powerful piece about how this couple are living with their grief. Having moved to Normandy, he is now in a new relationship and is writing a book. She has made new friends, joined various clubs and is going through the motions, but sees no meaning in life.
As they wait there, reliving their loss and how their relationship imploded, they finally face truths about what Jakob's death has meant for them as individuals and as a couple who had once been deeply in love.
She resents what she regards as her husband's desertion while he describes the steps he has taken to deal with the devastation. Of the two, he seems to be in a better place, something she attributes to him being a writer who can put words on his loss - she's not being complimentary there.
Underneath the anger and pain, they still seek to understand each other, even as they grapple to communicate.
Those conflicted feelings are captured wonderfully through movement, under Lianne O'Shea's measured direction. The stunningly simple timber set contains a park bench, a coffee machine, a water dispenser, a locked door and one exit.
As they sit on and around the bench, talking to and at each other, they are sometimes side-by-side. Frequently, one speaks to the other's back. Sometimes they're back-to-back. And sometimes one moves while the other sits, using physicality that conveys how they struggle to face each other.
The wonderfully subtle lighting and soundscape add hugely to the tension in this play where the two performers are almost constantly in focus.
For the most part, O'Byrne and Dunbar inhabit their roles beautifully, but her continual hand movements occasionally distract - less can be more when it comes to conveying emotions.
The dreamlike sequences where they relive their youth and parenthood, portray another dimension to their relationship and work - to a point. They are too long and editing them would add to the power of this play that brings its audiences to dark places but also offers hope and redemption.
Not everything is as it seems initially, but as 'Poison' unfolds, it becomes apparent that, despite their overt animosity, this couple still care deeply for each other. There can be no going back, but there might be a way forward for both of them.
‘Poison’ has transferred to Dublin's Project Arts Centre, where it's running until this Saturday evening, June 6.