The Government unveiled its vision for the new health service in a darkened room. An effect which was undeniably theatrical, although not in the operating sense. It was hard enough to check the politicians' scripts against delivery, never mind read between the lines. And anyone trying to find the 200-page report's section on visual disability, for example, ran the risk of eye strain.
But the gloom at least allowed us to appreciate the special effects in the Mansion House's Round Room: in particular the tiny, coloured lights in the ceiling, a sort of low-budget planetarium. The health service might be in the gutter now, was the message, but some of us were looking at the stars.
And in case anyone missed the point of the choice of venue - site of the first Dβil and all that - the Taoiseach was quick to hammer it home. Tackling healthcare reform would be just the latest in a line of historic national achievements, including the peace process and the ending of emigration and mass unemployment, he suggested. After this, there'd only be the draining of the Shannon left.
No less grandiosely, the Tanaiste introduced the Minister for Health with a quote from Oliver Wendell Holmes: "To reach our goal, we must sail sometimes with the wind, and sometimes against it - but we must sail, and not drift, nor lie at anchor." The health strategy was all about sailing, Ms Harney said, but we could relax in the knowledge that the ship was in the hands of Micheβl Martin.
This seemed a curious metaphor, even allowing for the fact that the state of the health service has been following the Government like an albatross for some time. But Captain Martin took the wheel with gusto and, navigating only by the lights in the ceiling, proceeded to explain how he would transform healthcare from the Rime of the Ancient Mariner into a Voyage to the New World.
Although the Minister's speech had plenty of detail - 3,000 extra beds by 2011, and so on - it was the vision thing that most impressed. An "articulated vision", as he called it, it featured "overarching goals" (four of them) which would guide planning for the "next 7-10 years".
It seemed churlish to point out that he may not have control of the ship for more than another seven months. Indeed, the Government would probably be happy to achieve a single goal, overarching or otherwise, and stop the Opposition scoring on the break.
But anyone who doubted yesterday was the start of the election campaign needed only to look at the Young Fine Gael protest outside, featuring white-coated students and a broken bed, and the unreal sight of cherubic TD Brian Hayes having his name taken by garda∅ for an unspecified public order infringement.
Back in the calm of the Mansion House, meanwhile, Captain Martin had removed himself to the mercifully well-lit Oak Room, where he handled all media questions with ease. But the long-term success of the great project may be out of his hands. The winds are predicted to be favourable for sailing, at least until the election. After that the weather could be unpredictable, and it remains to be seen whether the 10-year plan will lead to a New World of quality healthcare, or another south-sea bubble.