Bitchen Wolf's 'Heaven' at Loading Dock: A Raw and Moving Exploration of Marriage
Loading Dock Theatre's latest offering, Heaven by Eugene O'Brien, presented by Bitchen Wolf, is a powerful and unsettling exploration of a long-standing marriage. The play, starring Noel Hodda and Lucy Miller, unfolds with a quiet intensity that slowly builds to a devastating climax. Set against the backdrop of a wedding in the Irish Midlands, Heaven follows the strained relationship of Mal (Hodda) and Mairead (Miller), a couple in their fifties grappling with unspoken resentments and the weight of years together.
The play’s brilliance lies in its subtle characterisations and the masterful way O’Brien reveals the cracks beneath the surface of a seemingly ordinary couple. Hodda and Miller deliver exceptional performances, portraying Mal and Mairead with a raw vulnerability that is both captivating and heartbreaking. Their interactions are laced with a weary familiarity, a dance of passive aggression and fleeting moments of tenderness. You can feel the history between them, the shared joys and sorrows, the unspoken hurts that have accumulated over decades.
Director Amy Conroy has created a wonderfully intimate atmosphere at Loading Dock, allowing the audience to feel almost like eavesdroppers on this private drama. The set design is simple yet effective, perfectly capturing the bleakness of the Irish landscape and the claustrophobia of the couple's relationship. The lighting subtly enhances the mood, shifting from warm, nostalgic hues to cold, harsh tones as the play progresses.
Heaven isn't an easy watch. It's a play that demands your attention and challenges you to confront uncomfortable truths about love, loss, and the complexities of human connection. It doesn't offer easy answers or tidy resolutions, but rather leaves you pondering the fragility of relationships and the enduring power of the past. The dialogue is sharp and realistic, avoiding melodrama and relying instead on the nuances of everyday conversation to reveal the characters’ inner turmoil.
While the subject matter is heavy, Heaven is ultimately a deeply rewarding theatrical experience. Hodda and Miller's performances alone are worth the price of admission, and O’Brien's writing is a testament to the power of understated storytelling. If you're looking for a thought-provoking and emotionally resonant play, Heaven at Loading Dock is an absolute must-see. Don't expect a lighthearted escape, but prepare to be moved and challenged by this exceptional piece of theatre.
Photo Credit: Alex Vaughan (as featured in the original article)
