Review - Etherville

Starring Jeanette Sidney Kelly, Eoghan Kirby, Jessie Byrne

Written by Eamonn Colfer.

We are introduced to a young man named Elliot Dunne. He is in a wheelchair because of a car accident, and because of that, he spends most of his time in a deep depression and wallowing in self-pity.

His nurse, Gail, helps him out by making sure he does physiotherapy exercises. At one point, she gets so annoyed with him that she tells him his situation could be so much worse, that he could've been born with a disability like cerebral palsy.

He then shows her the headset that takes him into 'Etherville', a virtual world where he is able-bodied again. Gail scoffs at the idea saying that it is nothing more than a game, but for Elliot, this is a way for him to become a whole person again.

When she leaves, Elliot logs on to 'Etherville' and there he meets Sophie. They dance to Tchaikovsky's 'Waltz of the Fairies', and Elliot then wants to know more about her; she refuses. So, Elliot tells her all about him while she pleads with him not to. She soon logs out.

Once Elliot notices that Sophie is gone, he logs out. He starts experiencing shooting pains that quickly induce a seizure that sends him crashing to the floor. He tries to pull himself back into the wheelchair, but that ends up toppling over, and he has to call on Gail for help.

Some time later, Gail comes in with Elliot. He is on crutches, and his demeanour has improved. He is interacting with Gail in a friendly manner and is willing to do things for himself. Once she leaves for the day, Elliot receives a small package in the post. He opens it and there's a small music box inside. He turns the crank, and it plays 'Waltz of the Fairies'. He smiles, and the lights go down.

I'm a fan of the Netflix show 'Black Mirror', so I was interested in seeing this play. Speaking as someone who is also in a wheelchair, I share in Elliot's desire to escape into a virtual world and become able-bodied again; maybe even a mighty warrior with a body that'd be the envy of every man.

Real connections cannot be formed in a virtual environment, as seen in Elliot's attempts to connect with Sophie, which end up in rejection. But I remain hopeful that he managed to get through to her by the end of the play.

I enjoyed this play because it not only reached me, but also made reflect on certain aspects of my life.