I Am A Miracle

I Am A Miracle is a journey through unexpected territory that culminates in a rousing and satisfying resolve. It is constituted of three distinct stories, and it finishes pretty much where it started, integrating all these stories in a satisfying whole that is somehow more than the sum of its parts.

Declan Green’s script is poetic and often visceral in its descriptiveness.

The three performers, Melita Jurisic, Bert LaBonte and Hana Le Crisp, all excel as members of an ensemble and also as singers with angelic voices. Though the greater weight of the work rests on Jurisic’s shoulders, this is definitely a team piece with much relevance created through light and sound and a set that almost has agency of its own.

Although Jurisic works from a fairly restricted vocal and physical palate - her performance is riveting. This is partly due to the poetic nature of Green’s writing, combined with Matthew Lutton's very focused staging.

Audiences perceptions are destabilised by the unexpected and this is echoed in the disarray of the set. There is also one of those an amazing feats of coordination on a revolving set (the exciting contemporary stage equivalent of a car chase - perhaps?).

We experience the story of a young Dutch soldier on a colonising mission and there is the story of a failing marriage due to some form of encroaching dementia - both are framed by the pending execution of Marvin Lee Wilson, the Texan death row prisoner with an IQ of 61.

The soundscape by Marco Cher-Gibard is marvellous and the set by Marg Horwell is cleverly intuitive and used very innovatively.

The whole comes to a rousing close in a dramatic crescendo of sound, light and emotion in what feels like a huge gospel celebration in direct communication with God. This heightened catharsis pokes at the raw nerve of 'man’s inhumanity to man', something we can all feel very acutely in the current political climate.

Very strong contemporary theatre.

Suzanne Sandow

Credits

Directed by Matthew Lutton 

Composition by David Chisholm

Set and Costume Design by Marg Horwell

Set and Lighting Design by Paul Jackson

Sound Engineer and Designer - Marco Cher-Gibard

Performers:  Melita Jurisic, Bert LaBonte and Hana Le Crisp