Daniel Finlay’s tour-de-force performance spans the full range of human emotion. We see Father Damien consumed by impetuous enthusiasm, as he establishes his mission on the island; enduring quiet moments of doubt, when he finds himself falling short of his own spiritual ideals; and angry – at one point, terrifyingly angry – when he encounters the crimes and heartlessness of others. Finlay has the knack of making you believe in imagined scenes; in one particularly charming passage, he addresses a group of children, speaking to each one so convincingly and specifically that you’d swear they were actually there. Throughout it all, however, his Damien retains a diffident, slightly stumbling persona, lending the 80-minute monologue the natural feel of a friendly late-night chat.
The script, similarly, covers a lot of ground, yet remains eminently approachable. It soon becomes clear that Damien is speaking from the afterlife – yet his body is making an important journey back in the earthly world. Building on that clever combination, playwright Aldyth Morris charts a clear but intricate course through history, visiting both Damien’s years in Hawaii and the formative events of his younger life. At every stage of the story, there are subtle unanswered questions – helping to ensure that this detailed biography never feels predictable or stale.
Janette Eddisford’s set and design contribute hugely to the texture of the play. A host of evocative detail greets us as we walk in: from the incense burning in the corner, though the coffin-like chest draped in a Belgian tricolour, to the little yellow flags pinned to the ceiling (a modest but crucial symbol, whose significance will only later be revealed). The lighting, too, is striking at times, with beams cut through the incense-rich air invoking Father Damien’s personal communion with God.
Damien is a meaty, thoughtful play, which confronts the casual cruelty of well-meaning officialdom and poses thornier questions around the life-long impact of religious belief. In Finlay’s hands, however, this complex and detailed monologue never feels effortful to follow. If there’s justice in the world, this production will have a long life after the Fringe; but see it now if you possibly can.