Review: A Day in May

A Day in May, written by Colin Murphy and based on interview by journalist Charlie Bird is a gripping insight into the fight for legal gay marriage in Ireland.

On 23^rd May 2015, Ireland made history by becoming the first country in the world to legalise gay marriage, and this production highlights the cumulation of challenges that lead up to this achievement.

The play’s main plot focuses on the campaign to gain legal gay marriage, whilst integrating testimonies from gay people describing their experiences of “coming out” to their friends and family. The play ends with a moving song by the cast which links back to the key messages of the performance: hope, freedom and equality.

via Charlotte Conybeare

The cast (whilst only seven people) are very talented with particularly outstanding performances from H Sneyd as Frank and Jacob Coughlan as John. That being said, all the cast act as true professionals and demonstrated their talent through portrayal several characters each in the play (and singing), elevating the performance. The use of space and rearrangement of props during the performance made the Corpus playroom feel like a West End show, and kept the audience captivated since objects were constantly moving.

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The play highlights the struggles within the LGBTQ+ community in creating successful strategies to advocate for this right, and the subsequent response from the church, government and public, peaking in a referendum which depended on everyday Irish citizens. This clear historical moment, combined with true stories from gay people produced a moving and thought-provoking piece, because it emphasised the importance of empathy, openness and understanding for the plight of the gay community. The parallels between the countdown radio to keep momentum of the plot and the growing momentum of the marriage movement tied the play together, generating powerful emotions whilst recognising the tremendous effort in history and by the actors.

via Charlotte Conybeare

Although the cast move between scenes and different characters instantly, lighting changes and a quick costume change (e.g. a removal of a jacket) enable the storyline to be easily followed. That being said, it’s worth mentioning that at times, the Irish accents sounded more Australian than Irish. It did take away the intensity of the situation, but it is not necessarily a criticism as maybe a bit of light-hearted relief is needed in this passionate drama.

The costumes were simplistic, everyday outfits but flamboyant costumes are not needed for this – the messages and themes of the play speak for themselves. Indeed, the plain clothes are a good contrast to the fiery  performance, and they are typical of 21^st century Irish dress, reinforcing the context of the period. The set design (whilst also rudimentary) is on tone with modern day art deco, with aesthetic green plants and pictures artfully placed on the walls. Six chairs make up the remaining space, which are constantly moved by the cast to dictate clear scene changes – overall quite effective.

via Charlotte Conybeare

A Day in May is definitely one to watch because of its focus on the gay community’s battle for civil marriage rights, and its messages of hope, acceptance and equality. I recommend this show for anyone interested in Irish history, LGBTQ+ rights, or just a general love of theatre since the talented cast guide you through a passionate and moving performance in the struggle for acceptance. The whole production, including lights, music, acting, costumes, will leave you captivated, and if nothing else you get to listen to 90 minutes of hot Irish accents.

Review Score: 4.5/5

A Day in May is showing at the Corpus Playroom on Tuesday 18th to Saturday 22nd February. Book your tickets here.

Featured image credits: Charlotte Conybeare