-Brenda Hillegas
photo by Wide Eyed Studios
Meet Me At Dawn begins with a pair of women, Robyn (Hannah Gold) and Helen (Jackie Soro), as they wash onto shore after experiencing a boating accident. Through the next 90 minutes, we discover more about this couple and their love for one another. The audience, along with the characters, slowly come to the realization that we’re witnessing so much more than an accident and a way out. Instead, we’re discovering how to cope with what inevitably comes after.
This review is vague on purpose. Refrain from Googling more about the show, because some reviews from UK publications aren’t as kind. The plot shift is too good to even touch on here, but the unfamiliar territory they are trying to escape from has a much deeper meaning than we assume. Robyn and Helen aren’t just looking for a way home, they’re looking for answers…closure…understanding why bits and pieces of their day are suddenly becoming more clear and yet still so questionable.
Gold and Soro are so consumed by their characters and it’s clear how much they devote themselves to the dialogue and plot. It only takes a few minutes for the audience to forget that this is just a play. In fact, as Robyn and Helen come to terms with why they are stranded together, we ache with them. These actors perfectly capture the realness of this story, because like they say, we’ve all been there…or will be one day. Where, exactly, I don’t want to say. But the beauty of this story, the love of these two women, the pain and the grief they experience- even though there are some mystery and fantasy elements to this show- are all so relevant and unfathomable.
Inis Nua Theatre presents the American premiere of Meet Me at Dawn, written by Scottish playwright Zinnie Harris, through March 5th only. All performances will take place at the Louis Bluver Theatre at The Theatres at the Drake, 302 S. Hicks Street in Philadelphia. Tickets are on sale now for $30 by calling (215) 454-9776 or visiting inisnuatheatre.org.
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