“How far would you go to defend a family member?” is the question posed by the latest production from Teatro da Rainha. Directed by Henrique Fialho, the play aims to dismantle the “us versus them” logic, the dichotomy of “good versus bad people.”
In ‘Órfãos’, a romantic dinner between Danny and Helen is abruptly disrupted by the arrival of Helen’s brother, covered in blood. As per Teatro da Rainha’s synopsis, “Danny’s first instinct is to call the police, but Helen urges him not to,” citing her brother’s criminal record as a concern that might direct suspicion towards him.
Among the brother Liam’s deceit, Helen’s threats, and their efforts to prevent Danny from calling the police, “the family ties gradually deteriorate” through the evening. The debate over whether to assist the injured brother or protect the family “completely shatters, invoking the most basic human instincts, the possibility of a peaceful domestic life.”
In this “romantic dinner turned into a laboratory of evil,” consisting of “excellently crafted dialogues, the plot unfolds through a series of arguments, lapses, and fallacies, typical of psychological thrillers, with suspense maintaining tension throughout,” as explained in Teatro da Rainha’s press statement.
The trio’s discussion serves as a catalyst to explore “the volatility of family bonds, social fractures, criminality, abortion, the effects of immigration, racism, torture, the alienation of moral conscience, and its sustaining values,” according to the text about Dennis Kelly’s play. Kelly, known for series such as ‘Utopia’ and ‘The Third Day’, is a recipient of BAFTA, Emmy, and Tony awards.
Teatro da Rainha highlights “one of the most intriguing aspects in the work of the English playwright is precisely how it addresses the encounter between a society corrupted by violence and hate culture, and a family facing disruption due to a confrontation with reality.”
Translated and directed by Henrique Fialho, ‘Órfãos’ features performances by Fábio Costa, Inês Barros, and Tiago Moreira, with set design by José Carlos Faria and lighting by Hâmbar de Sousa.
The play will be staged from Wednesday to Saturday, at 9:30 PM, from November 20 to December 13, at the resident company’s studio in Caldas da Rainha, Leiria district.
