Heaven
★★★★☆ Compelling performances
Traverse: Tue 25 Feb – Sat 1 Mar 2025
Review by Suzanne O’Brien.
Heaven, by Eugene O’Brien at the Traverse until Saturday, is a fascinating exploration of human desires which strikes a delicate balance between humour and heartache.
Set against the backdrop of a local wedding in the Irish midlands, this production from Dublin-based Fishamble explores the strained marriage of Mairead and Mal, in their early fifties, whose relationship is failing to fulfil the desires they both crave.
Andrew Bennett and Janet Moran in Heaven. Pic: Ste Murray.
Ironically, this exploration of desires takes place during the wedding of their daughter, a celebration of love and unity. While the young couple embark on their new journey together, Mairead (Janet Moran) and Mal (Andrew Bennett) find themselves at the opposite end of the spectrum, yearning for something they cannot find with each other.
Their arrival back in their hometown conjures up old feelings, giving the pair a chance to confront their current issues and pursue opportunities. What follows is a journey of highs and lows, where Mal experiments with literal highs – drugs and alcohol – and Mairead reconnects with an ex-lover. Their separate pursuits are simultaneously enthralling yet tinged with sadness as it highlights the faults in their own union.
casually delivered
Moran’s Mairead offers a candid portrayal of a woman grappling with the complexities of motherhood and sexual craving. Her rebellious nature and unfiltered honesty about her strained relationship with her youngest daughter are casually delivered with a mix of warmth and sharpness. She draws the audience in instantly and maintains this connection throughout.
Janet Moran in Heaven. Pic: Ste Murray
Bennett excellently captures a man torn between his desires and his fears. His Mal is less straightforward than the blunt Mairead, having suppressed his feelings and sexuality for a long time. His sexual obsession with Christ, stemming from his fantasies as an altar boy, is darkly humorous, and the references to Christ in Mairead’s monologue add even more humour.
Bennett particularly excels when portraying the ever-increasing effects of Mal’s drug-taking, with a performance that is unpredictable, erratic – and thoroughly entertaining.
purposeful
The separation between Mairead and Mal is emphasised by their lack of any interaction on stage. The entire piece is delivered as two separate monologues. One might expect scenes of confrontation, awkwardness, or even a fleeting glance between the couple but the absence of these moments is purposeful, allowing their internal struggles to have complete focus.
Andrew Bennett in Heaven. Pic: Ste Murray
As with all highs, a crash inevitably follows, bringing to the forefront some serious questions for Mairead about their relationship and the life they’ve built together. The tonal shift is natural yet somewhat predictable.
The play is beautifully complemented by Zia Bergin-Holly’s subtle lighting design which plays a crucial role in maintaining the seamless transitions between scenes and locations, whether it’s the warm glow of a streetlamp or the soft lighting of a hotel room. The smooth flow is also felt in the gentle incorporation of music, composed and designed by Carl Kennedy, used to heighten poignant sections and moments of introspection, underscoring the depth to Eugene O’Brien’s writing.
a search for fulfilment
O’Brien excels at capturing the complexities of the human experience, weaving together moments of humour with emotional insights. Heaven is a story of lust, longing and, ultimately, a search for fulfilment.
Under Jim Culleton’s brilliant direction, this is a genuinely funny piece that works well in its simplicity. It leaves you both laughing and reflecting on the complexities of intimacy, the passage of time – and what could have been.
Running time: One hour and 30 minutes (no interval)
Traverse, 10 Cambridge Street, EH1 2ED.
Tue 25 Feb – Sat 1 Mar 2025
Evening: 8pm, Sat mat: 2pm. (Trav 2).
Tickets and details: Book here (returns only).
Company website: www.fishamble.com
Instagram: @fishamble
Facebook: @Fishamble
X: @Fishamble
Janet Moran in Heaven. Pic: Ste Murray
ENDS
