Two storytellers kick start the play as a fairytale, but with a difference like none other we have seen before. Despite this cliché the script does much to justify itself, resulting in a haunting play that mixes suffering with escapism, illness with fairies and agony with hope. Only one Wing takes up the story of an eleven year old girl called Ester and her mother. After being a most energetic and explorative child with immense promise to have a soaring life, Ester begins to suffer from the disease M.E. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome as it is also called is a terrible disease of the mind and body that eats away the girl from within and crushes her spirit with fatigue. The daughter suffers from the pain of the disease and an inability to leave her bedroom while her mother must come to terms with a grim life watching the girl she loves slowly deteriorate from an illness which was not until recently recognised in the medical world. While bed bound Esters mind creates its own escape, her imagination taking her to a fairytale story. Companionship comes in the form of the fairy boy, born with only one wing, destined never to fly or lead a fulfilled life. Should she focus on the harsh life of the fairy and by doing so lose the last defence of her sanity, or can she find the solace she needs to survive.The play doesnt tear wildly at the heartstrings but makes us empathise with the world of suffering. The audience is saved from being left distraught by a spine chilling glimmer of hope. This is a fulfilling examination of how people cope in desperate circumstances by regarding the grim reality alongside the intricacies of an imagination gone wild. The delivery of the play wasnt perfect. There were only small hints of jittery acting in the performance but it was enough to hold the play back from the true power the script has intended. You will feel haunted and downhearted, but ultimately that valuable glimmer of hope lets you carry on your day quite fulfilled.
