REVIEW: DEAF AS A POST by Shaun Blaney at Baron’s Court Theatre 9 - 20 April.

‘Effective drama on some levels but needing more development to reach its full potential.’ ★★★   

This dystopian drama hits the ground running, literally, with soldiers escaping the clutches of Zombie like ‘loopers’. The effect of the air born virus is to make people continuously repeat themselves until their speech is incoherent, and their bodies are spasming.  Written by Northern Irish actor Shaun Blaney, who also takes the lead role, the drama aims to give an insight into the world of partial hearing loss.

Setting the show in a war zone allowed the story to include a bullying Sergeant Major type of character, whose lack of empathy with the partially deaf soldier (Blaney) allows us to see how patronising and unhelpful people can be.    A better relationship is forged with another soldier, a woman who has taken the trouble to learn a little sign language. The bond between these two soldiers goes beyond affection and this drives the action, as both attempt to keep the other alive.

Naturally, sound is very important to the show, and this was achieved very well, with episodes of sound distortion. For some people who experience high pitch hearing problems these sounds can become painfully piercing as demonstrated a number of times.

The high stakes in the drama, was kept up with a cracking pace by director Emma Copeland. However, the drama loses out because some of the characters are cartoonish.  The actors are clearly very capable, and deserve more. Blaney’s script and his excellent physical performance, suggests a familiarity with military maneuvers. I would have liked to see the show given more depth. 

The lived experience of soldiers often means that they have a deep bond, their survival depending on each other. Showing this in a more realistic way, would have elevated the production and given far more poignancy to the drama.   

Kibo Productions and Dandelion Theatre present

DEAF AS A POST by Shaun Blaney

Barons Court Theatre

9 – 20 April

Directed by Emma Copeland

Cast: Victoria Johnston, Shaun Blaney, Nuala McGowen