Brian Friel’s play Translations explores the effect of British colonialism in Ireland during the 19th century on the poor, mostly Catholic, inhabitants of the small and remote villages. The names of the villages were changed and anglicised and the English language foisted on them condemning their own beautiful tongue to history.

The set is very impressive and Anna Michaels must be congratulated on her realistic recreation of a ramshackle barn in Donegal, giving shelter to a Hedge School (a rural teaching establishment where people of the village paid per subject to gain a simple education). The head of the school, Hugh, is raucously drunk on the local poteen most of the time and keeps company with Jimmy Jack an old scholar much given to quoting Latin and Greek. Oliver Hoare’s portrayal of the very old, jittery bundle of rags that is Jimmy Jack, is excellent as is Alisdair Buchan’s of Hugh, whose formidable presence at times dominates the play.

Owen, the son of the Master has joined the military to act as translator and befriended Lt.Yolland, played by Joe Jameson. His diffident shyness, and obvious love of all things Irish, especially the wild and curly-haired Maire, begins a forbidden romance between them. Nora Wardell as Maire (who so looks the part) and Joe Jameson play a delightful scene where neither can speak the other’s language but the emotion and tenderness between them tells that words of love need no translation.

Charlie Morton as Owen’s crippled brother Manus gives a fine performance of a man who has ambitions but in his heart realises that the situation for all of them is hopeless; and that if they wish it or not the Irish way of life will change.

Rather impressively not once did any cast member loose their subtle Irish dialect, not did it appear false. Brian Friel’s play captures the indefinable magic of Ireland even in the worse times, and through the sensitive interpretation this production gives we could quite understand Lt. Yolland’s desire to jump ship and stay forever.

We thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to more productions of this calibre from the BOVTS.

Jacquie Vowles