Good theatre is like the elixir of life and Brian Friel's play Faith Healer is a theatrical experience. Enthralling, it revolves around the world of Frank Hardy and his wife and partner's itinerant life of faith healing in obscure parts of Wales and Scotland. But there is no dialogue, their stories are all related in independent, lengthy monologues.
Using only two chairs as props and a 'tatty banner' proclaiming 'Fantastic Frank Hardy, the Faith Healer/ One Night Only', Frank is the first person to enter the stage. Charismatic, we the theatre audience immediately become his audience.
He regales us with humorous tales of their times on the road; their visits to run-down halls in hamlets hoping people would turn up so he could test his unpredictable healing powers - the success rate 'perhaps nine out of ten'.
We hear stories of his life with his wife Grace (whom he insists on calling his mistress) and partner Teddy, his warm-up man. Memories though are subjective so what is the truth? What is the reality? For when Grace and Teddy independently recall the same poignant events, their versions are different.
The writing is superb, as is the acting. It effortlessly embroils us in the lives of these fragile, damaged people. Owen Roe plays Frank, the tortured faith healer; Ingrid Craigie is the compliant, traumatised Grace and Kim Durham plays Teddy the effervescent showman.
Faith Healer is reputed to be the Irish Playwright's best play. Monologues are an ambitious way of presenting a story of interrelated lives but Brian Friel has created a piece of riveting theatre.
Times
16 August, 2pm and 7.30pm
17, 18 August, 7.30pm
2, 4, 5 September 7.30pm