One of the most famous works by Irish dramatist Brian Friel opened at New Vic last night which starts the production’s national 2023 tour. The play first opened in 1979, the tale of travelling faith healer Frank, his wife Grace and manager Teddy is told through a series of four monologues. It deals with themes of loss, addiction and how an account of the same events by different people, paints vast inconsistencies.
Opening with the ‘Faith Healer’ himself, Frank (Paul Carroll) we hear of the tales of the trio navigating rural Wales and Scotland in the 50s and 60s, stopping at old towns in rickety halls to attempt to cure the afflicted who turn up to his ‘performances’. We see Frank questioning his own ability, is he a charlatan, does he really possess a gift? We see an inner turmoil within him as he searches for the answer. Every healing confirms his ability, every “bad performance” damns him as a fraud.
Grace (Gina Costigan) recounts the tale of her husband as ‘an artist’, her tumultuous relationship with both Frank and her own parents, Frank’s occasional verbal cruelties, but ultimately clinging on to a (possibly) falsely manufactured memory of her husband, glossing over his obvious flaws.
Teddy (Jonathan Ashley) provides an account of his old showbiz days, previous ludicrous acts he managed, from bagpipe playing canines to acts with pigeons. They seemed in comparison, despite being bizarre, easier days than being the onlooker to Frank and Grace’s tumultuous relationship, as winding as the narrow roads their van takes them.
It interesting to see, the three characters, with their obvious flaws, having devised a co-dependent relationship with one another and the title ‘Faith Healer’ seems prudent as their faith in one another seems to provide just enough adequate succour.
London Classic Theatre are well know for their fabulous productions, most recent at New Vic was ‘Abigail’s Party’ in April of this year, and this again is fantastic under the direction of Michael Cabot. All three actors were a marvel and drew out the angst, sorrow and ire of each of their characters so wonderfully. There’s something really captivating and intense, for both actor and audience, with monologues which can be so very, very difficult to execute, but they certainly did it formidably carrying us through their characters’ journey.
Certainly our car ride home was filled with questions of whose account of events was accurate, which piece from which character was the most plausible and of course (no spoilers) what events would have occurred in the moments after the tale stopped.
The minimal set was well used with the stage showing partial maps of Wales, Scotland and Ireland and the characters pacing the relevant country when discussing the tales therein. The lighting matched the mood from soft and bright, to sullen and near dark.
Faith Healer is on until 9th September and tickets are available here. Be sure to catch this!
