Marcia Kelson‘s new play, Birds of Passage, opened at Drayton Arms Theatre last night in a production directed by Penny Gkritzapi.
Three tourists arrive on the (fictional) Greek island of Zandros for a week’s holiday in the sun. Emma (Millie Walters) is travelling alone; Sandra (Maggie Daniels) and Bill (Jan van der Black) are trying something away from their usual big package trip.
On their arrival, it becomes clear that life is not as idyllic as the brochure suggests, as Bill spots evidence of a refugee crisis out on the beach, and an incident shakes the composure of the visitors.
Set mainly on the balconies of two hotel rooms, Birds of Passage is a wordy piece punctuated by blurb from the holiday itinerary, promising excursions, walks and smooth sands.
Tour rep Elena (Marissia Petropoulou) stays upbeat in the face of outrage and racism from the tetchy Bill, while Emma finds a connection with Jusef (Jerome Kennedy), whose story gives her an opportunity and purpose.
Addressing the tensions between tourism and economic migrants, Birds of Passage is occasionally flabby and a little wordy (one passage detailing a cruise trip is almost immediately repeated in the brochure link), but there are strong characters in Emma and Jusef.
I found myself accurately guessing a couple of the twists and turns and felt the play might benefit from a slight trim here and there, but Gkritzapi’s direction keeps things moving with clear blocking and varied exits.
Nelson takes the idea of refugees heading to Europe and sets it against mythology (Eleos, goddess of mercy and compassion) and the ‘white saviour’ complex. Birds of Passage considers preconceptions about ‘young men taking our benefits’ as well as the liberal view of migrant backgrounds.
The characters are not made black and white and are portrayed well throughout, with van der Black giving Bill a sensitivity and Daniels justifying Sandra’s unlikely union. There’s also strong support from Christopher Kouros as a peripheral character.
Birds of Passage is a thoughtful piece on a difficult, current situation. It runs at Drayton Arms Theatre until 15 Mar with tickets here.
3 stars.
Images supplied by Marcia Kelson.