Somnium

Somnium by Brú Theatre. Image by Tomek Stankiewicz

****

A dichotomy is established even before the show begins, foreshadowing the tension between opposing worlds. The ancient dark of an ageless stage offset by calming music suggestive of a modern spa. The conflict resolved momentarily as artist Julianna Bloodgood keens in the darkness. Haunting that liminal space suggested by the show’s title Somnium. The world between waking and sleep. As Bloodgood sits by her instruments, unfurling shadows behind sheets of gauze reveal a woman sat onstage. The vocal ritual now given physical and narrative accompaniment by Philippa Hambly, with both performances soon enriched by Jane Cassidy’s stunning parade of impressive visuals. Brú Theatre's fifty-five minute ritual aspiring towards transformation and occasionally getting there. Even as its retelling of a tale as old as time can feel twice as long at times. Its story aspiring to myth reduced to a fairytale.

The tale in question being the Greek legend of sisters Philomela and Procne. About how Procne’s husband, Tereus, rapes Philomela then cuts out her tongue to prevent her telling. About Philomela’s subsequent revenge by way of a nightingale and The Furies. Less reimagined so much as repackaged as strands of mist from the Celtic twilight. Its power diminished, its savagery sanitised by the civilised manner of its telling. Somnium unsure if it’s a concert with theatrical accompaniment or a theatrical performance with musical accompaniment. Competing forms of music, body and visual design striving towards interdisciplinary coherence yet rarely fusing into that transcendent other. The result, too often, suggestive of stylised, Riverdance broodiness with none of the joy. Myth and mysticism more John Boorman’s Excalibur than Black Elk Speaks. Bloodgood’s hybrid of languages and sounds a spiritual Esperanto. Its text less the mythic poetry of a Joy Harjo so much as knock off Romanticism with cliched pastorals. Songs and scenes alternating as trippy visuals become more and more ambitious. Layered flames giving way to encompassing forests and breathtaking snowstorms as the story unfolds. From an ever shifting crowd to a nightingale in a sea of clouds that encompasses the entire room. Even as true depth is often achieved when visual flamboyance is reduced to the soft, orange glow of twilight gloom, or the haunting blue of moonlit shadow. All the while Bloodgood’s keening strives for moments of release. The final, stunning image, perfectly scored, achieving that sought after merging of sound, body and imagery. The end of a stumbling journey finally reached, the view making it one well worth the taking.

Despite talk of interdisciplinary collaboration, Somnium shows a clear, hierarchal order. A pyramid of power with Bloodgood firmly at its apex. Director and co-creator, James Riordan, theatre maker Hambly, and visual artist Cassidy acolytes in service to Bloodgood’s high priestess. Who, like all priests and priestesses, blocks access to the temple even as they reveal it. The audience obedient spectators rather than engaged participants hypnotised by the ritual's sounds, shadows and lights. Attentive to Bloodgood's musical finger pointing at the moon on a moonless night. Which is not always a bad thing by any measure. Bloodgood’s voice can weave such spells it's balm for the soul. Yet in borrowing from all traditions, Somnium belongs to none, even as it strives to root itself in the mythic past via pick and mix language and mysticism. Gregorian Latin replaced by a pagan chant, yet still only accessible only to the initiated. The Catholic priest now a pagan priestess stepped in stillness. Singing the same song with different lyrics. Achieving roughly the same result. Even so, Bloodgood can wield such genuine power it's impressive to behold.

As artistic experiments go, Somnium is hugely successful. Even though it preaches to the converted, there's more soul in this single production than many other companies can muster in a year. Brú Theatre reaffirming their reputation as one of the bravest, innovative, risk taking companies in the country. If Somnium can feel like the opening ceremony for the Olympics at times, there are moments it captures a million lifetimes, offering brief, fleeting glimpses of the timeless within time, of the silence behind the silence.

Somnium by Brú Theatre, directed by James Riordan with the company, composer Julianna Bloodgood, runs at Bank of Ireland Theatre, University of Galway, as part of Galway International Arts Festival 2024 till July 20.

For more informations visit Galway International Arts Festival 2024 or Brú Theatre