Story of a Day – Scéal Lae review: Nothing special is pretty special

Irish Times

5 days ago

Story of a Day – Scéal Lae
The Cube, University of Galway
★★★★☆
This is simultaneously both a small show and a big show. There is a single actor and a simple, effective stage setting, involving a prop which is variously an upright bed, a kitchen/table, a repository for props.
But there are also five musicians live onstage – the Contempo Quartet as part of Galway Music Residency, plus pianist Daniel Browell, conducted by Sinéad Hayes, playing a wonderful original score by Tom Lane. So, a big show. This is pretty cool stuff, and the occasional interactions between the boy and the quartet are sweet and amusing.
There are two versions of the same production for young children, written by Mary Murphy, in English and Irish, alternating presentations.
It's a small show primarily because it's about one day, one ordinary 'nothing special happens kind of day' in the life of a boy, aged seven. It starts when he wakes up, his dreams dashing and fleeting and just out of reach, as they are for us all, and finishes at bedtime. In between there's family life at home, breakfast, the bus to school, break in the yard, meeting the new girl Nayo ('she is learning how to be here. Maybe at break we can learn each other'), dinner, washing-up, homework.
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Those bare bones are so simple, but both in concept and in production it's beautifully done. Even eating an apple at break takes on comic qualities. Murphy's script has him narrate his day as it's happening, but it is also reflective, allowing him to stand outside himself, the sort of first inklings of the inner voice in a child, which is fascinating. Some of this inner voice is a wordplay-association game in his head: Erasers are made of… disappear. Ideas are made of… everything. Full up is made of… lazy. Teacher is made of…. attention.
On the screen behind, Murphy's animated illustrations reflect the day and his reflections in simple suggestive moving brushstrokes.
Eoin Ó Dubhghaill as the boy is a lovely blend of devilment and open-face and heart. He captures the nature of a small child: the curiosity, the enthusiasm, the odd trains of thought, the silliness. Directed by Marc Mac Lochlainn, this 45-minute show is gentle and fun and has the high production values children's theatre deserves.
Among many lovely concepts is the invisible house – it's gone, and is now a field. Walking by it from the bus stop: '10 minutes walking home alone, is 10 minutes I own.'
Simple wisdoms, delicately told, with care.
Nothing special is pretty special.