The Union Theatre presents

The premiere of New Yorker Justin Warner's

IMPOSTERS

photo from Stagephoto

Directed by Aoife Smyth

photo from Stagephoto

When the play begins, we see what appears to be a normal, everyday Catholic American living room. All the usual trappings are there: Sacred Heart in a gilt frame, brass platters on the wall, fruit shaped magnets on the fridge door, photo of a German Shepherd – no doubt in memory of a former family pet. A cleverly devised triangular construction with a door on either side of it stands between these furnishings - a nod to the dual nature of what is to come. The set is ingenious enough to be taken for granted because it has that true, lived-in look, right down to the butt end of a bottle of dish detergent sitting on the drain board near the kitchen sink. This is apt, because Impostors is socially realistic, in that it genuinely captures the highs and lows of love and familial relationships.

The human condition is displayed here in duplicate when, in the aftermath of a car crash, Vincent's revised perceptions of reality, convince him that his parents have been replaced by exact copies of themselves. We're not talking cloning here, but a rare neurological condition called Capgras' Syndrome, in which the brain causes the familiar faces of loved ones to become disengaged from the emotional associations normally linked to them. Vincent's new perspective causes him to assume a more objective view of his parent's interactions than he ever could have as their son. The events which unfold within the family system as a result, are both gently heart-wrenching and surprisingly thought-provoking.

All of the actors were very good in their roles. Joyce Springer's deft turn as Peggy Delancey, Vincent's mother, added layers of pathos beneath the character's natural humour that gave the impression that Vincent's mother is a person who acts from her heart instead of her head, and is genuinely warm and endearing underneath her pain. This added depth was all the more impressive, given the simplistic nature of many of her lines. Springer's stunning portrayal, together with Thomas Grube's marvellous performance as Vincent's father Frank, (her husband of twenty-four years), seemed to personify a couple going through the trying tests that enduring love demands. Edd Hunter and Aidan Synnott provided comic contrast as dissimilar brothers Andrew and Vincent, and Graham Elwell amused in his down to earth role as a jaded Catholic priest, as well as the opportunistic Dr. Saper,(and an Intern) making it seem as though he could easily expand on any or all of his characterisations. Denis Quilligan as Paul Stanton alternated between emotional numbness, and tenderness in the face of lost love.

Impostors is a play that offers memorable moments, many of which are darkly funny and, close to the bone.

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