As I entered the auditorium of the Peacock to see The Crows Way by Moonfish Theatre, I noticed something rather odd. This show, intended for children, had an almost completely adult audience. Perhaps it was the novelty of a children’s show in our national theatre (something that we do not see very often) that enticed them. Nonetheless, it was a good thing grown-ups were in attendance, as The Crows Way had some very good points to make about how we function in society. The show explored the typically Irish yearning to belong, discussing land ownership, racism, climate change, friendship and even parenting. It did so in a soothingly entertaining way which, although was probably in favour of younger audience members, sure did make for a receptive adult audience too.
The Crows Way tells the tale of Cuán, played by Jeanne Nicole Ní Áinle. Cuán is a young boy who has been given the job to lead the town of Ballyfeen in an annual ritual. This fails dramatically when he realises that this ritual involves the killing of the village crows. Cuán runs away into the uncharted territory of the forest and meets many different creatures along the way, each of whom complain about how the humans keep them out of the town. Cuán’s best friend Gerda, played by Seoirsin Bashford, must decide whether she should go after Cuán despite his public disgrace or if she should listen to her mother, the town mayor (played by Zita Monaghan) and stop being friends with him for betraying this beloved tradition.
The Crows Way had a hugely positive response with Siobhan Long describing it in The Irish Times as a “timely meditation on how to move on from out-of-date rituals”. The only flaw with this simplified structure is the “evil” attitude that Gerda’s mother embodies in order to protect the crow’s ritual. The production beautifully portrays the complex motives we use to hold onto tradition, however, this image disintegrated once the town mayor goes, quite frankly, crazy. In one particular moment, the lights go dark and Gerda’s mother adopts a cunningly sweet tone to convince her daughter to leave Cuán in the forest that quickly becomes sharp and aggressive. This fails to acknowledge how, in real life, those who struggle to overcome the unknown can also be good people. By proposing an image of humanity to children that is black and white, we fail to consider potential solutions to societal problems that may actually be effective in the real world.
The Crows Way highlighted many flawed structures within Irish communities that are often unexplored in Irish theatre. The format of children’s theatre deeply complemented the story of isolation that Cuán experiences as it skillfully unpacked many social problems in a considerate and entertaining way, even for the adults in the room. Jeanne Nicole Ní Áinle was absolutely superb and stood out among the cast in their skills as a performer, particularly their ability to transform into a child. The ensemble were clearly enjoying themselves as they filled the beautiful set with their energy and enthusiasm, which was a true joy to watch. The Crows Way proves that theatre can communicate ideas to both children and adults effectively while also providing beautiful storytelling that everyone can glean entertainment from.
Rating 4/5
WORDS: Amy Callery
