REVIEW | Jude, South London Theatre
- Harry Brogan
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
AD | tickets gifted in exchange of an honest review
TW/CW: References to death and allusions to mental health problems.
Have you ever heard of Saint Jude? Well if you pray for him enough the saint shows up into your life, coming from the sky down to the earth. That’s what happened to Ciaran, a factory worker in Buncrana, County Donegal in Ireland, married to Àine, basically settled in this countryside with Father Emmett and Eamonn, the pub owner and friends. Well settled, that is until the factory is about to close and he has to find another job.
Ciaran’s journey is a rollercoaster, losing a lot on the way because of this paralysis of not wanting to move. His wife is a painter, she works in the Tesco in town and she is willing to have a more inspiring life. And she says to her husband “you need to live the life”, “how will you know what do to if you don’t have any dreams ?”. Dream, hope and future are what tortures Ciaran, so is Àine by this subject, but her character dynamics are more on the move, despite the deep care and worry she has for her husband.
Johnny Ray Brolly represents Ciaran in this nonchalant way, but with a constant weight over his shoulders, a constant feeling of being powerless. This feeling is expressed with a lot of him being closed off, in his face.
Jude, played so well by Daragh Griffin is a very interesting and playful character. This is almost a new concept in theatre, of playing an invisible person. Jude only has interactions with Ciaran. He becomes his guide but more than that his friend. The evolution of their relationship is touching and reaches a very deep level of trust. Jude himself gets stuck when Ciaran gets stuck, he is like his shadow, that no one can see. The character for Jude is surprising, funny and touching. As an audience, seeing this invisible character being so present among people that are in the visible is very engaging.
We travel from the living room of the couple, to the pub, to the church, the beach and graveyard. The sense of space is clear and grounded for the actors, the set has something warm to it and transitions have a fluidity to them that makes each scene a unique moment in time in that lost man journey.
Father Emmett is one of the most comedic character. Jason Moran has a great physicality that will make you laugh. The pub owner, Eamonn (played by Carl Manzi), is the meeting point, his silences are observations, he only speaks when he has to say something to help the other characters. Manzi took out a stillness to this role and surprises us towards the end.
Àine, Ciaran’s wife (played by Ella Pernet Molloy) has different layers in heart break down moments and attempts to change things. Pernet Molloy plays Àine in a way that runs the dynamic of the story, she embodies the steps Ciaran goes through and the whole characters go through themselves. There is some connection with Jude in terms of softness and caring for others that she has in her. She is an anchor, but she is challenged by this tradition and settled down “boring” lives as said before.
The theme of love is extended beyond the relationship when it comes to Ciaran loving home, being scared of having a job that is not at home. Because his dad didn’t and he seems to have this barrier that he built himself, that stops him from thinking than any other lives is possible.
Niko Burns and Elsie Markers did a great job with directing this play, with making this new writing alive on a set that will make you feel like you are in Ireland. There is something special as well about the objects that are repeatedly mentioned, holding, and looked at on stage that gives some landmarks to the audience when watching.
A genius concept, over a poignant story, with strong complex and subtle comedy.
★★★★★
Jude plays at at South London Theatre until 26th of April.
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