Review: THE MURMURATION OF STARLINGS, Seven Dials Playhouse
Photo credit: Steve Randall
A man and a woman appear to live in an apocalyptic shelter, hiding from a threat that lies somewhere above them. This surreal play refuses to spoon-feed its audience and seems entirely comfortable offering little in the way of clear answers or reassurance.
As The Man packs his rucksack to face the world outside, he seems almost as lost as the boy he encounters in the streets. Throughout the story, there is a constant sense of confusion and danger, as the two are pursued by an unseen “alien” predator.
The predator remains an abstract villain for most of the play but as the narrative unfolds, it begins to feel as though the real threat might not exist only above them, but within the people themselves. This mystery runs throughout the piece, leaving many questions unanswered and many stones deliberately unturned.
There appears to be a parallel between The Man and The Woman, and The Boy and The Girl. The story shifts between what feels like alternate realities, moments when they are the boy meeting the girl for the first time, and others when they are the older couple who have already fallen in love. Yet the play never fully commits to this idea. No matter how charming these moments can be, the story never quite becomes a fully realised love story, nor does it develop into a resolved mystery filled with action and payoff.
The script is rich in metaphor and analogy, often blurring the line between fantasy and reality, imagination and actuality.
Jonny Dagnall is a delight to watch, bringing enthusiasm and serving as an anchor for the audience in this strange and confusing world. There is an uneasy energy with The Woman, played by Jenny Johns, which contrasts nicely with the naivety and youthful wonder that Steve Hay brings to The Man.
When Jennifer Barton enters as The Girl, she introduces a bright and youthful dynamic that signals the beginning of this potential love story. However, the relationship never feels rooted enough to fully pull the audience to the edge of their seats. The play often seems unsure of exactly what it wants to say. While the performances are individually interesting, they are not given quite enough depth, and the writing leaves them suspended in the potential of what the story could be.
This is clearly an ambitious play, one that attempts to pack a great deal into its world. At times, however, the narrative becomes incoherent, rambling, and disjointed, particularly during the first act. The clues that might lead the audience toward a larger conclusion are not sustained strongly enough to build to a satisfying reveal.
The visual elements, particularly the projections of birds, suggest a lot of potential, but they are rarely used to full effect. Most projections function simply as quick, static scenery changes and do not fully integrate with the movement of the characters or the shifting nature of the world they inhabit.
There is heart at the centre of this play, and its boldness is always commendable. With some further fine-tuning, "twisting and turning" in the writing and direction, and a clearer focus on what the play ultimately wants to say, this intriguing concept could easily reach its next level.
*** Three stars
Reviewed by: Beatriz Ferreira
