Words: Alex Grunberg
Image: Ruari Barber-Fleming

4 stars

Òran invites the audience into his world by handing out pieces of the story, transforming us into part of the meticulously controlled atmosphere that he manipulates and navigates with inventive style. Using visual and sound effects that create surreal electronic atmospheres, one lone actor fills the intimate space with a boundless energy as he guides us through a tragic narrative of loss, regret, and the desire for redemption.

Òran, an Orpheus-like character hoping to cheat death in a journey to the Underworld, carries with him a surprising secret and complex trauma. While the experimentation with lyrical text and set design are engaging, what truly shines here is the emotional core of a timely story on bullying and technology. We are haunted by the frame of the phone that carries so much pain for the characters and acts as an excellent metaphorical centre for the piece. It is in this core story that we see Òran’s vulnerability and a very heartbreaking portrayal of online harassment and its harmful effects.

While all of the elements together, from design to complex narrative, can be a little overwhelming, this was a sincere tale told with passion and impressive athleticism. A concept that required total commitment, and the star of the show Robbie Gordon, bears his heart on the stage.

ÒRAN
Pleasance Courtyard – Baby Grand
15:15
Aug 3-4, 6-11, 13-18, 20-25