Review by Mark Quinn
On entering the Mac’s Downstairs theatre, the atmosphere of Aurora: A Modern Myth is primed and waiting to envelop an audience. The deep space soundscape and twinkling vortex highlight a white tree structure, which the plot and the players revolve around.
Part of Belfast International Arts Festival, the play follows Cass, who has a deep-rooted (pardon the pun) connection to the tree, which she calls her friend. Her attempt to save the tree, by chaining herself to ultimately reveals itself to be more than an environmental escapade against the corporate gold mines who have set their sights on what lies beneath.
Complimenting this side of the tale, as part of a collaboration with Ulster University’s animation department, we see the parts of a tree hidden under the soil through the combination of animation, light and audio. The incredible projections, sound and lighting designs and even the story itself make the static structure feel alive – and provide a reminder that we are all connected to nature. The colours of Aurora Borealis, localised to the village outside Belfast in which the play takes place, ripple through the stage and elevate the production to hypnotic levels.
The narrative jumps back and forth between Cass’s live-streamed protest and her interrogation in a cell block, once her solo run inspires thousands of others to fight against an insurmountable challenge. Meghan Tyler as Cass is a constant on stage throughout the 90 minutes giving a child-like hope and wonder to Cass’s mission.
They are ably supported on-stage by Conor O’Donnell and Thomas Finnegan. To reveal the friction between this pair would risk spoiling the inspired conflict at the heart of this plot. Maria Connolly proves an intimidating off-stage interrogator, in spite of, or perhaps because of her enlarged presence as a projection behind our hero Cass.
The script, from Dominic Montague, walks the tightrope between poetic and preachy skilfully, with an overtly eco-warrior sermon deftly avoided for an emphasis on connection to humanity. Some moments were so unexpectedly hysterical you could hear titters long after the words were out as another audience member caught on to the joke. A particular highlight (which may not work out of context) was “There are no goujons for turncoats.”
The undisputed highlight of the production is the talking badger who appears as a projection on the tree and even shows up for curtain call to wave goodbye. Where else would you find an Anarcho-communist badger with the broadest Belfast accent this side of The Nolan Show? A little gem of a production.
Rating: ★★★★☆ (Very Good)
Aurora: A Modern Myth is at The MAC Belfast until 2 November
