FIERCE CRAIC
A really enjoyable, light-hearted, raucous comedy just opened at The Irish Repertory Theatre: the world premiere of Irishtown by Ciara Elizabeth Smyth, directed by Nicola Murphy Dubey. In a building on the outskirts of Dublin, The Irishtown Players, three actors, a playwright and a director, are rehearsing a new play, a sexual assault court drama set in England they are going to perform in New York on Broadway. The actors don’t feel the plot is Irish enough, the playwright walks out in a rage, and they are stuck with having to devise an Irish play on the spot, to “pump the audience so full of Ireland they’ll have shamrocks coming out their noses.” How hard could it be? Repetitive suffering, existential despair as thick as fog on a bog, someone dies, someone else probably wishes they had, colonialism, Catholicism, incest, and a lot of trauma come to their minds.
Angela Reed, Kevin Oliver Lynch, Kate Burton, Saoirse-Monica Jackson, Brenda Meaney
Smyth keeps the plot light and never tedious, classic Irish banter, and the cast delivers a very smooth performance. It features an outstanding and exhilarating Kate Burton as Constance, the older actress, agreeable, a bit astray; a sparkling Saoirse-Monica Jackson as Síofra, the younger thirsty thespian; Kevin Oliver Lynch as Quin, the concerned, jangly actor; Brenda Meaney as Aisling, the insecure writer; and Angela Reed as Poppy, the friendly, lustful director. Many things are discussed before rehearsals like sex with cast members, intra-trade references, and dropped names, but the main issue is the “authenticity” of the play they are supposed to perform: it takes place in England, not Ireland, there are no rolling hills, no pubs, and it has a happy ending. Constance has never been in an Irish play with a happy ending and Quin cannot even name one.
Kate Burton, Saoirse-Monica Jackson and Angela Reed
Roger Clark is McCabe, the producer; we never see him but we hear his phone calls, and the fear of having to pay him back the $250,000 advance forces the Players to make a decision. The set and lighting design by Colm McNally and the sound design by Caroline Eng are streamlined and inconspicuous, while the costumes by Orla Long are very realistic, bringing color in the drab rehearsal hall. The plot is at times obvious, the action slows down a bit in the middle, but it’s a sound production, consistently amusing. Burton and Jackson absolutely shine: comedy is hard work, and they made it look effortless. So, is Irish theatre bleak? Relentlessly. Delightfully. Professionally. And we wouldn’t want it any other way, but this Irish play is guaranteed to have you grinning and giggling from start to finish.
Kevin Oliver Lynch and Kate Burton
photos by Carol Rosegg
Kevin Oliver Lynch, Saoirse-Monica Jason, and Kate Burton
Irishtown
Irish Repertory Theatre
Francis J. Greenburger Mainstage, 132 West 22nd St
90 minutes, no intermission
for tickets ($60-$125), call 212.727.2737 or visit Irish Rep
