In a show of folky fairies, Kennesaw State University manages to pull together a difficult script and put on what was ultimately a slick and interesting production. From what I could make out, the plot follows the life of the Irish poet Red Hanrahan, seeing him run in and out of the mystical fairyland in attempt at chasing down his epiphanic sweetheart. The narrative was confusing, if only because an hour is not nearly enough time to cover an entire life; the result being a scurried attempt at incessant storytelling where I was left feeling slightly as if I had watched a children’s film in fast-forward.
Complaints aside, it would be wrong to ignore the many positives that this play possesses. The opening scene was stunning; a hauntingly composed folk song, the harmonies of which lent themselves beautifully to the intimacy of the venue, exciting a magical atmosphere that continued throughout and was perpetuated by the impressively agile chorus. Scene changes were performed seamlessly through live music and soundscape, and though the acting verged at times on the melodramatic, there is certainly no faulting the consistent energy of the entire cast. The director breezes through a number of influences - a touch upon Eastern aesthetics is accompanied by the mimed representation of an Irish pub, complemented by near-flawless accents.
Red Hanrahan’s style will appeal to a certain audience and for those types there really is a huge amount to be taken away. The plain language and novelty sung out for the eyes of youth, but you’d better bone up on your poetry to enjoy it to its fullest.
