In Connor McPherson's captivating play, "The Seafarer," audience members are pleasantly caught in a dual world of uncontrollable laughter and shudder-inspiring fear.
For comical characters Richard Harkin, his brother Sharkey and their permanent guest Ivan, Christmas is no different from a regular day of drinking and arguing -- until the uninvited, enigmatic Lockhart begins to disclose secrets from Sharkey's past.
McPherson, the playwright of "The Weir" (1997) and "Port Authority" (2001), combines elements of the supernatural, sin, redemption and religion, weaving them together in a humorous Irish household. On one hand, there is Richard, who is blind, confident and almost boisterous. On the other, there is his meek brother Sharkey, who is always flustered or tense about life. Then there is Ivan, who is completely clueless about anything outside his world of alcohol, but never fails to generate laughs as he fiddles with his glasses or clumsily tries to steal whisky.
Alcohol is a running motif in the play, but is not used to warn the audience of its ill effects. Rather, McPherson accepts the fact that it is potent and dangerous. Sharkey, for example, is never keen on having Nicky Giblin over, knowing that the entire affair will turn into a drunken shouting match.
The atmosphere is light at first, as drinks are free flowing in the house, filling the space with a sense of joviality as the characters continue to imbibe and gamble. Lockhart is quiet through most of the scenes until he is left alone with Sharkey.
When Lockhart tells him, "I want your soul," the audience is caught off guard, as it is a complete turnaround from the humorous beginning. And when viewers see Sharkey writhing on the floor in pain, their fears are confirmed -- the enigmatic guest is the devil.
McPherson cleverly parallels the eerily mysterious scenes between Lockhart and Sharkey with boisterously funny exchanges between Ivan and Richard, lightening up the tense atmosphere but not removing the persistent feeling of impending doom. Who is this Lockhart character? What does he want? These questions are asked aloud by a despaired Sharkey who attempts to uncover this truth along with the audience.
Still, the play ends on a somewhat positive note, perhaps symbolizing the devil's defeat. But even after the curtain closes, questions linger, leaving the audience members somewhat haunted as they leave the theater.
