After Seeing the Irish Modern Dance Theatre's Lear

4 9 R A F T E R S E E I N G T H E I R I S H M O D E R N D A N C E T H E A T R E ’ S L E A R C A T H E R I N E S T A P L E S Slow light is breaking beyond the donkey’s pasture. Inside the darkened house brightness rims the shutters. Sunlight strains before it breaks, fattens to a sa√ron seam. A saint’s pageant flashes and slides across the room. Morning runs riot – a tumbler’s leap of shadows. A chandelier rides the ceiling, the writing desk blanches in the changed light – shivers and stares. All of it quick as lakewater dried in your hair, a flame blown loose from the wick. ...