Written by Enda Walsh, My Friend Duplicity is an enigmatic play that opens in a small space. The two main characters, Fergal and Jean, stare intensely into the audience. The action starts immediately, with the two characters manically dishevelling the space with litter and rubbish, accompanied by an intense backing track. Needless to say, the play grabs my attention immediately.
After the mania dies down, the pair sit and face each other at a desk, remaining silent until Fergal starts to speak. The characters’ dialogue loops and winds into tangential comments with no apparent direction. Of the two characters, Fergal is the more erratic, and Jean predominantly acts as the voice of reason. She questions Fergal and at times becomes frustrated with his random musings, which seem to revolve around a garden and a woman named Cynthia he would like to meet there.
The two characters explore topics of Irish heritage, their confusing relationship with each other and their purpose in the world. The tone of the play varies wildly as the characters journey through subdued conversations, bouts of laughter and bitter arguments. This contrast is aptly enhanced by the sudden changes in lighting by Joe Davies and similar drastic fluctuations in sound by Andrew Ormsby.
Both actors, Richard Neville and Anna Conway, shine in their roles, as they portray complex concepts with ease. They are consistently engaged with each other and maintain their strong dynamic relationship throughout the play. This sort of engagement and sense of purpose is evidence of excellent co-direction by Ultan Pringle and Aoife Daly.
The set design by Gráinne Mahon enhances the characters’ performances and yet doesn’t take away from the play. Their ordinary, neutral coloured costumes by Alice Roden also add to the performance without drawing attention away from the actors’ performances. The litter scattered across the floor seems to reflect the messiness of the characters’ jumbled thoughts as they struggle to find answers.
Ultimately, the play is defined by its strong direction and cast. The play’s plot, however, is deeply random and tangential. It doesn’t leave you with a clear vision of what the characters are working towards. Be that as it may, the chaotic nature of the play is not necessarily negative, and the piece certainly leaves a lasting impression.
My Friend Duplicity runs at 1pm until Saturday, November 16th in Players Theatre.
