Moby Dick (Gare St. Lazare Players Ireland)

Conor Lovett returned to the A&I Festival with another superb dramatization. This time, he retold the core narrative of Melville's Moby Dick (adapted by Lovett and Judy Hegearty Lovet) through the persona of Ishmael. Accompanied only by Caoimhin O'Raghallaigh (solo fiddle), Lovett brings to life Melville's dense narrative of madness and whales. With his initial "Call me Ishmael" and continuing to the first interlude once the Pequod sets sail, Lovett's narration brings out the comic aspect of Ishmael's melancholic, hesitant tale.

The audience remained entranced throughout, and it found especially moving the horrifying scene when Ahab refused to help search for the young son of the Rachel's captain.

Of course, choices had to be made, and many choice moments--such as Ahab's Sermon to the Sharks--were omitted. Nevertheless, Lovett's rendition allowed us to hear Melville's words in ways easy to miss when read silently.

Highly recommend.