The Saviour

 The Saviour
Irish Repertory Theatre
July 13, 2023 

Photo courtesy of Irish Repertory Theatre

In The Saviour, playwright Deirdre Kinahan crafted a complicated and multifaceted main character.  At first, the audience meets a very private side of Máire.  She is full of love, kindness, faith, and vulnerability.  In the second half of this one act play, she is confronted with an unspeakable truth that she cannot face.  Her response is bitter, biting, and selfish.  Louise Lowe skillfully directed this Irish Repertory Theatre production so that the audience embraces and understands this character.  Their hearts break along with hers, as she seeks forgiveness and acceptance. 

Máire (played by Marie Mullen) is sitting in bed smoking a cigarette.  It is the morning of her birthday.  She has just spent the night with her gentleman friend, and is feeling great joy.  She talks to Jesus about this man, Martin, who she feels was sent to her by him.  After the death of her husband, she did not expect to find love again.  Her loneliness grew after her children become adults and moved on with their own lives. 

Marie Mullens as Máire
Photo courtesy of Irish Repertory Theatre

Máire’s son, Mel (played by Jamie O’Neill) arrives to surprise her with a birthday present.  Mel senses his mother’s discomfort about his unexpected visit.  She denies that Martin spent the night.  Mel has done a background check on Martin, and breaks some upsetting news to his mother.  Máire believes in the forgiving power of Jesus, but Mel sees the darker side of Martin’s presence in his mother’s life.

Marie Mullen’s portrayal of this complex character is genuine and honest.  Each shift of mood is visceral and natural.  Due to the expert crafting of playwright Louise Lowe, the complicated layers of Máire’s character are justified and motivated.  It is Ms. Mullen’s masterful portrayal that instinctually weaves these layers into one complete and empathetic character. 

Marie Mullen & Jamie O'Neill
Photo courtesy of Irish Repertory Theatre

Jamie O’Neill portrays Mel as considerate and caring.  He knows his mother very well, and does not allow her manipulation, forcefulness, and talk of Jesus get in the way of declaring the threat he sees in his mother’s gentleman friend.  Mel draws a clear line in the sand for Máire, and warns her not to cross it.  Mr. O’Neill plays that moment with conviction and an open heart.

The Saviour is a compact and potent piece of theatre, with a running time of seventy minutes (no intermission).  It is playing at Irish Repertory Theatre through August 13.  

Domenick Danza