Legos

Written by Graham Butler Breen

Directed and Musical Score by Ryan O'Donnell

Starring

Damien - George Parashkevov

Paulina - Rachel Ann O'Sullivan

Luna Collective would like to thank the Ad Astra Academy for funding this project.

Legos was developed as a spiritual successor to AGOG, leaning more so into the “online” aspect and attacking the format of lockdown theatre pieces as a whole. There was a considerable amount of online theatre pieces coming out that were mainly monologues with very little to virtually no duologues happening. There was such a lack of connection with something tangible that watching really gorgeous performances became monotonous. Here’s another monologue on top of forty more; here’s another actor trying so hard to connect with the little flashing red dot, begging for some real human interaction. Legos was an attempt to try and bridge that gap. Furthermore, I really wanted to interrogate this fantastic commodity we have access to, that connects us and holds us more than ever before: the internet and technology. The writing task was simple and as always begins with simple questions.

What is a relationship between two people who have already had an established friendship in an online world where we are (still) unable to physically connect? What happens to that relationship? How do we navigate intimacy and closeness when we are supposed to be more connected than ever but, right now, so far apart and for so long?

Legos also marked the first time we as a company worked with external performers. The part of Damien was written with George in mind; a soft mannered and sensitive young man asking big questions with nothing but love to give. It was imperative that this character, while charming, did not come across as trying to romance Paulina. He is a romantic at heart but their relationship is not romantic. Let us see two adults have a friendly adult relationship! Likewise, Paulina was to be written as strong willed, stern but not cold. A woman trying desperately to block out any form of association with her own sufferings; an escapist. But when she finally opens up, tragedy! She is denied this by technology. And thus, we have the conflict. One who wants connection so badly but technology denies him it and another who needs isolation but is confronted daily by an urge to speak out but is too denied it by the same technology. It was hard to talk to people during the pandemic. It was tough to hold conversations, to keep relationships alive. 

The musical score that was employed by Ryan for this performance was something that was discussed in-depth. Up until this point, we had had musicians and artists create and compose tracks for our pieces, but Legos felt quite different. It lacked the aggressiveness of GUY or the jazz of AGOG. It was quieter and softer, something that kissed you goodnight in the absence of real intimacy. A lullaby. A few notes on guitar that said everything was going to be so fine, don’t worry…until the final note. An imperfect cadence, an unresolved fifth. The thought of the root is there but it is still hanging, it doesn’t resolve…like our story. It is left open and imperfect with a lack of closure. Damien and Paulina hang up but that conversation is left hanging over both of them – maybe for a few days or maybe for a few weeks. Maybe indefinitely. 

Legos is a brief snapshot into the lives of what perhaps many people experienced daily, weekly and perhaps still do experience. Its a simple story of friendship, of love, of vulnerability and the deep need for vulnerability as well as the deep need for real connection. Spending our time online is lovely, it is fabulous to know what and where your friends are, to be caught up in their lives. But where does that connection end? What is left hanging? Legos says quite a lot is missing. Online there is room for misunderstanding and absence without really being absent. For quick removals and staving off that extra mile. It says go out, have difficult conversations and love that you can – because we all know we could very easily go back to where we were years ago.