Lourdes! The Musical at the Dublin Theatre Festival gives the French pilgrimage town a Vegas-style glow-up, but with slashed canvases and a whole lot of heart. Described as “a holy Blackpool, a divine Las Vegas,” this effervescent show from Xnthony Ltd tackles heavy themes of racism, conflict, and prejudice with a light, quizzical touch.
A Vegas Glow-Up for Lourdes
In a festival programme filled with weighty subjects, Lourdes! The Musical promises something different. The creators of Oliver Cromwell Is Really Very Sorry turn their gaze to the French pilgrimage site, a place of hope and desperation for five unlikely travelling companions. The show interweaves a show-within-a-show and a pilgrimage narrative, blending pop, club beats, and soulful ballads.
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Plot and Characters
Set in 2008, the story follows singer-songwriter Matthew (Riain Cash) who, after an HIV diagnosis punctures his dreams of Los Angeles, returns to his home village in “Countryland”. There, he lends his star power to a parish drama group staging a musical about Saint Bernadette. The narrative toggles between this amateur production and the actual pilgrimage to Lourdes, where characters reveal what brings them to the Marian shrine.
Directed by Sarah Meadows, the supercharged ensemble includes a droll priest (Iestyn Arwel), a terminally ill mother and her transgender daughter (Nichola MacEvilly and Danielle James), and an eager tour manager (Molly Lynch). Together, they carry the music’s tonal shifts effortlessly, guided by neon signs that instruct them to “please wait for a miracle”.
Why Lourdes! The Musical Stands Out
What sets this show apart is its ability to balance tackiness and piety. Each character has a Catholic faith of sorts, something that might have been more complicated to portray if set in the present day. The Vegas glow-up is not just aesthetic; it’s a metaphor for the transformative power of hope and desperation.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Setting | Lourdes, France, and “Countryland”, 2008 |
| Creators | Xnthony Ltd |
| Director | Sarah Meadows |
| Music | Matthew Floyd Jones (score), Xnthony (lyrics) |
| Rating | ★★★★☆ |
Key Takeaways
- Vegas glow-up: Lourdes is reimagined as a divine Las Vegas, blending tackiness and piety.
- Heavy themes, light touch: The musical tackles racism, conflict, and prejudice with effervescence.
- Show-within-a-show: The narrative interweaves a parish drama group’s musical with a real pilgrimage.
- Standout performances: Riain Cash leads a supercharged ensemble that handles tonal shifts effortlessly.
FAQ
What is Lourdes! The Musical about?
What is Lourdes! The Musical about?
It follows a singer-songwriter with HIV who returns to his home village and joins a parish drama group staging a musical about Saint Bernadette, interwoven with a pilgrimage to Lourdes.
Who created Lourdes! The Musical?
Who created Lourdes! The Musical?
The show is by Xnthony Ltd, with lyrics by Xnthony, score by Matthew Floyd Jones, and direction by Sarah Meadows.
Where is Lourdes! The Musical playing?
Where is Lourdes! The Musical playing?
It is part of the Dublin Theatre Festival programme.
With its bold blend of pop, club beats, and soulful ballads, Lourdes! The Musical offers a Vegas-style glow-up that is as entertaining as it is thought-provoking. Don’t miss this standout production at the Dublin Theatre Festival.
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