Terminus: to revel with the devil

First premiering a decade ago, Irish playwright Mark O’Rowe’s Terminus is a wicked tale set to a rhythmic beat. It is gritty and grounded in the urban realities of Dublin’s urban sprawl, but it quickly soars into the realm of the fantastical and supernatural. It’s infused with a vein of humour but features some seriously gory subject matter, and together the imagery and language froth with a furious energy throughout.

Delivered as a series of monologues, Terminus tells the story of A (Emma Louise Pursey), B (Sarah Clarke) and C (Scott Major). A is a former teacher nearing middle age who works at a suicide hotline; during a work shift she chances upon a former student who seems to be in danger from a group of female thugs. B is a woman in her 20s on the lookout for love, but a night out at the pub quickly takes a macabre and (literally) devilish turn. C is a man who is extremely shy and inept around women. His aw-shucks manner and darkly comedic observations make him oddly charismatic, though this veneer belies a horrendous truth.

All three actors, while Australian, perform their monologues in thick Irish accents. When coupled with the 100-minute intermission-less format, this means that maximum concentration and a certain amount of stamina are needed to be able to follow the intricate threads of the story. Luckily the gripping plot turns, witty wordplay and the solid delivery by the actors make this task an easy one. Mark O’Rowe once remarked in an interview that monologues allow him to explore one of his favourite things about writing: “the writing itself, finding the rhythm and music of how people speak.”

The cosy, intimate setting of the Courthouse Hotel performance space works well with the minimalist stage and sound design, allowing the audience to focus squarely on the actors – down to each subtle voice inflection, facial expression and gesture.

While the word ‘terminus’ is literally defined as ‘an end point’, there is a deep connection between the characters’ stories and a constant shifting between dualities: choice and destiny, guilt and redemption, angels and devils – and old endings and new beginnings.

Terminus 
The Courthouse Hotel, 86–90 Errol Street, North Melbourne
Tuesday, 21 February to Saturday, 11 March
northofeight.com.au