Mr. Bergmann of Deadman’s Point is a new play written and performed by Ronan Dempsey. Based on the true story of Ireland’s famous mystery story about the unidentified man “Peter Bergman” who was found dead. All that is known is that he had spent three days in Sligo mysteriously erasing his identity and was later found dead on a lonely shoreline.

Dempsey sets the play in a mortuary where his body lies waiting to be prepared for his funeral. The embalmer tells the dead man that he will be treated with the same care and respect as all the others, even though he is shrouded in mystery and hasn’t any family there.

The embalmer has his own demons and failed relationship. Through the dialogue between him and his client, we learn that his life hasn’t been easy, and he has lost a lot and is facing his own mortality head-on, while posing the question about lasting legacies and what we leave behind.

The dialogue is rich and full of emotion and humour. This particular play is full of spoilers, which makes reviewing more of a challenge. Another unique play which is available at this year’s Fringe.

Dempsey is a clever and articilate writer, and although he would never have known Mr Bergman, this play offers a slice of the Irish Town, Sligo’s History at the Edinburgh Fringe and a touching memorial to the mysterious isolated man whose become one the modern mysteries.

The venue space at The Vaults Paradise is the perfect place to have set this play. The atmosphere inside the venue feels like it could easily have been used as a mortuary at some point, although it hasn’t. Away from the glare of the outside world where the embalmer could work undisturbed.

For more information about Mr. Bergmann of Deadman’s Point, please use the link below.

Five Stars.

https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/mr-bergmann-of-deadman-s-point