How do people cope with the grief of losing someone they love? The Ferry, The Dog and The Fading Folk, a one-woman show written by Amber Frances and Odhran Thomson and directed by Katie Jackson, answers this question in a dreamy and fairytale-like way.
Jules cannot accept the loss of her loved one. To make herself feel better, she boards a ferry and heads to the Isle of Arran with the plan of returning before nightfall. However, Jules’ journey is much longer than she expected. On the ferry, she meets an old man and his dog. They are planning to go hiking on the island, and Jules decides to go with them. However, before the night arrives, a storm comes. Jules has to remain on the island, crammed into a small tent, with the old man, that is supposed to be for one person. During the night on the Isle of Arran, she meets a giant who likes to dine on grieving humans, dancing faeries, and a woman who washes her clothes...And from the moment she steps onto the ferry, the shadow of her beloved appears in her mind all the time.
The stage is empty, and all the scenes are shaped by the actress’ descriptions and performances. The lighting changes flexibly, sometimes turning to a melancholic blue, sometimes to a mesmerizing red. Every now and then, a sound (Cecilia Thoden van Velzen) suddenly comes out, signifying the call of Jules’ partner. There are also cicadas and birds chirping as if we were there with Jules in the mountains of the Isle of Arran.
Frances’ performance is compelling. Her words and reactions have brought this empty stage to life. Most of the time, the content of a fantastical tale very much needs to be constructed with the support of the set along with the rest of the cast, but Frances’ solo performance doesn’t make the story seem unrealistic at all. In terms of acting, she has managed to create this magical world all by herself. She also has just the right amount of humour to add a few touches of light-heartedness to this intense story.
The audience waits for Jules to wake up from such a fantastical dream ever since she encounters the giant, but she doesn’t, and the fact that all of this has really happened makes this story more unique. There is certain pain that can’t and doesn’t need to be completely healed in one way or another. But at least, in this story, the fact that Jules can be willing to go on living after such a tempestuous night is enough, and the strength embedded in the conclusions she comes to will surely be able to be passed on to some of the viewers as well.
★★★★☆ (4*)
Gifted tickets in return for an honest review | Photography provided by the Production
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