#BlueThunder, an immersive production by Cathal Cleary and Padraic Walsh, plunges us into the depths of toxic masculinity & fractured communications. Set in a claustrophobic van🎭🚐, it's a play where the ambience calls to mind Sartre's No Exit: souls ensnared, battling internal & shared demons. But here, it's not just existential angst; it's the visceral straightjacket of strained family dynamics…

This 50-minute performance, expertly directed by Cathal Cleary, showcases the talents of Seán Doyle (Ray), Eoin Geoghegan (Dara), and Gary Lilburn (Brian), who play a father & sons. Through their entwined narratives, we're confronted with layers of unspoken words & unhealed wounds🔎…

The immediacy of the setting is both unsettling & intriguing👥👀 As the raw narrative unfolds, we hear these men chew, smell their takeaways, see their bloodshot eyes. The chemistry between the actors, their precise energy shifts, and their ability to maintain a fourth wall amidst such close proximity is riveting…

In a bold twist, #BlueThunder plays with the technique of “Chekhov's Gun”. Instead of the anticipated climax & resolution, it teases us with a series of climactic misfires, side-stepping the traditional dénouement. In place of closure, we're handed an open Pandora's box, a bitter, lingering aftertaste. This subversive approach to narrative is both jarring & refreshing, mirroring life's unpredictable trajectories & unfulfilled expectations🔀

The presence of women, though off-stage, is palpable. Their roles in the male characters' lives echo the conflicts in Ibsen's A Doll's House — Nora's hidden life juxtaposed against Torvald’s emotional aloofness…

The play is inspired by Joshua Miels’ oil painting, "How much for cash” (2021)— a dark, atmospherically intense portrait of a man🎨 Imagine thickly slathered oil on canvas; brooding blues & shadowed contours that mirror the play’s tumultuous relationships and suppressed emotions…

In all, #BlueThunder is a road trip into the psyche. A maze where human connection is perpetually sought but rarely found. In many ways, it’s a powerful reminder that communication is not about how we talk, but rather, how we listen & understand🌟5/5