What I always have faith in is the power of theatre to bring complex topics to life and to mind. It rarely disappoints me, there is such magic in spending a concentrated hour or two mesmerised by the intensity of actors on stage. This time, I photographed a rehearsal of Faith Healer by Brian Friel, a strong new production by the Open House Theatre. Faith Healer delves into the narrative of “the fantastic” Francis Hardy, conveyed through the evolving recollections of Hardy himself, his wife Grace, and the stage manager, Teddy. The play originally premiered in 1979 and is now showing for the first time in Vienna.
Francis (Frank) Hardy (Alan Burgon) is a charismatic showman, apparently with a mysterious gift – the ability to heal the sick through touch. But only sometimes, inexplicably. His power is predictably inconsistent and shrouded in doubt. He travels through Scotland, Wales, and Ireland, with his loyal wife, Grace (Anne Marie Sheridan), and his stage manager, Teddy (Brian Hatfield), who—overly optimistic or maybe just desperate—attempts to keep the show on the road.
Embarking on a journey through the remote landscapes of Scotland and Wales, Frank offers his remedy to those who feel lost and despondent, destitute farmers and workers with hardly a penny to spare. Is his a genuine gift or merely a play on perception? “Aberarder, Aberayron, Llangranog, Llangurig, Abergorlech, Abergynolwyn, Llandefeilog, Llanerchymedd, Aberhosan, Aberporth, Inverbervie, Inverdruie, Invergordon, Badachroo, Kinlochewe, Ballantrae, Inverkeithing, Cawdor, Kirkconnel, Plaidy, Kirkinner, Kinlochbervie…,” the villages they pass through become the mantra Frank murmurs to himself before every show, full of self-doubt. The tales unravel, revealing moments of despair and tragedy, with the characters´ conflicting memories, told in consecutive monologues, making us wonder who is telling the truth. Or what is truth, anyway? Do Frank, Grace, and Teddy even know their own truth?
We meet Grace at a low point, where she gauges her condition by the number of cigarettes she’s smoked and glasses of whiskey she’s downed. How she sees Frank is not quite how frank thinks she does. Singing an Irish song with her wonderful voice, Anne Marie Sheridan is fantastic at making us both see and feel her state of despair.
Meanwhile Teddy is introduced humming and dancing along, beer in hand, to an old gramophone playing Fred Astaire´s “The Way You Look Tonight,”. This tune serves as a thread connecting the monologues that revolve around two unsettling incidents: one in a Ballybeg pub and the other in Kinlochbervie in the Scottish Highlands, which take on a heavy significance. What we learn from Teddy´s tales is most unsettling, as we piece together what happened bit by bit.
All three characters bear deep emotional wounds. What, in fact, was the nature of their relationships? Grace tentatively revisits memories of Frank, desperately looking for sustenance. “I am getting better, I really think I am,” she tries to convince herself. Teddy too has feelings buried deep inside that jocular surface, more so when he speaks of Grace. When he describes her singing, he suggests that she isn’t merely performing but that the song is “rising out of her by itself.” And what about Frank? He remains a complex enigma, his inner depths eluding both us and those who journey alongside him — yet ultimately, it’s revealed that he harbors a profound ache, perhaps nestled away in the depths of Kinlochbervie. Alan Burgon embodies this conflicted persona with a nuanced blend of charisma, wit, introspection, and concealed anguish.
Vienna’s theatre scene thrives on its rich tapestry of languages and stories. Stepping into this vibrant mix is Open House Theatre, a company dedicated to bringing high-quality, English-language productions to life. To this I say, with that old Fred Astaire tune, “Oh, but you´re lovely…“
Founded in 2012, Open House took the baton from the sadly now defunct International Theatre, ensuring Vienna wouldn’t miss its annual dose of Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.” (For this I am especially thankful, as in fact we have been going to see that annual Christmas show as a family tradition for years, from when it was still being put on at the International Theatre.) But the repertoire of the dedicated actors and directors of Open House Theatre has so much more than festive classics to offer. Their diverse programme of shows, readings, and workshops is well worth subscribing to. There is something there for theatre and storytelling lovers of all ages.
Faith Healer is on only this week at the Theater im Café Prückel in Vienna´s first district. Do go see it and support this small company, whose team puts so much effort into creating engaging productions on a shoestring budget! A story worth telling…
Directed by Owen Lindsay
Cast: Alan Burgon, Brian Hatfield, Anne Marie Sheridan
The play premiered March 12 and plays daily until March 16, 2024.
8 pm
Where:
Theater im Café Prückel
Biberstraße 2
1010 Wien
(No, as usual, I am not being paid to write this.)
Before the start of the dress rehearsal
ViennaCultgram 