Autobiographical: “concerned with one's own life, based on, or dealing with one's own life history”
The narrative of many novels, films and plays may be said to be “autobiographical,” which by definition means based on real events or people, lending credence to characters and circumstances. In “Have I No Mouth”, Brokentalkers theatre company has devised a dramatic portrait to illustrate the Cannon family’s real life story in which the three characters portray – rather, I should say, they are - themselves.
In 2001, Sean Cannon suddenly died of an illness which was preventable and for the past twelve years his wife Ann and son Feidlam have tried to accept their tragic loss. But grief and anger at medical negligence linger on, leading them to have counselling with psychotherapist Erich Keller.
The audience is invited to take part in a therapy session, at which they are encouraged to relax, breathe in, then breathe out to blow up a balloon to release tension and anger.
Mother and son express their individual memories of husband and father: Feidlam recalls Roy Orbison songs and pints of ice cold Guinness, dismissed as sentimental by his mother, who dwells on morbid events.
Recalling family life about 30 years before, she describes a previous family bereavement of a baby boy, her third son, at just a day old. Feidlam remembers the day, when, aged just six years old, his mother told him the news. “but how can you lose a baby? … why? Can you find it.?” he asks, unable to understand.
Sitting at a kitchen table, with lifesize, cardboard cut-out photographs of Feidlam and his younger brother as little boys, they re-enact family scenes such as at Christmas. But sharing stories and memories only causes disagreement about what really happened. Through the ritual of remembrance, designed as a healing process, Feidlam realises how much he has changed since childhood.
After an engaging start with a humorous video clip as a tribute to Sean and his love of Guinness, the action becomes exaggerated to the point of manic, hysterical behaviour. Instead of empathising with their situation, I slowly feel uncomfortable at witnessing this emotional expression and exorcism of grief.
As a theatrical play, the question I have is are they all acting, performing a role or is this the honest truth? Autobiographical drama taken several steps too far.
Show times
1 - 26 August, 2013. Various times.
Ticket prices
Sun-Thu £17 (£12).
Fri-Sat £19 (£14).