BBC Radio 3, 24 March 2013
First produced by Paines Plough and Sheffield Theatres in 2011, Lungs
had a straightforward plot focusing on the agonies experienced by a couple (Kate O'Flynn, Alistair Cope) considering
whether they should bring a baby into the world.
Within that framework, however, dramatist Duncan Macmillan creates a complex piece
of shifting moods, in which listeners are continually encouraged to look behind the words to discover the characters'
true feelings. On several occasions the dialogue becomes a means of obfuscation: the ordinary banalities of daily conversation
offer some form of protection for a couple either unwilling or unable to confront their emotional difficulties. Sometimes
it's difficult to contemplate the truth about oneself and one's relationship to others.
In structural terms, Lungs resembles a stream-of-consciousness piece,
with its rapid temporal and conversational switches. Sometimes this is used as a form of protection; such
switches help the characters to avoid contemplating the realities of their existence. On other occasions, however, Macmillan
uses this technique to suggest the randomness of the world; it's difficult to find anything to hold onto. The characters
can only find stability in their relationship, which helps to explain why they end up staying together, despite numerous temporary
break-ups.
Richard Wilsom's production - restaged for radio by Toby Swift - was both comic
yet profound. It seemed especially suited to the medium of radio, as it forced listeners to concentrate
on the characters' various moods. Congratulations to the two actors (O'Flynn and Cope), who revealed an
astonishing vocal virtuosity.
