Translations Still Needed A Quarter Century Later

The Manhattan Theater Club Re-stages Brian Friel's Masterpiece At The Biltmore Theatre

By John Mooney

In 1981, the Manhattan Theater Club produced the American premiere of Brian Friel's masterpiece Translations. Twenty-five years later, the themes of this play are as timely as ever, as a Belfast court ruled this week that Northern Ireland's second largest city's designation as Londonderry would remain until a Royal Prerogative or government legislation adjusts the 1622 charter. (Members of the nationalist community have vowed to continue the battle.)

In Translations, clashing cultures and tragedies caused by miscommunication unfold in Ballybeg, a place the playwright invented that also provides the setting for Dancing at Lughnasa, Aristocrats, and Molly Sweeney. The play is directed by Garry Hynes, the first woman ever to receive a Tony Award for directing The Beauty Queen of Leenane.

Translations first bowed at the Guildhall in Derry in September 1980. It was the first production by the Field Day Theatre Company founded by Brian Friel and Stephen Rea. The original case featured Rea as Owen and Liam Neeson as Doalty.

Set in 1833, the drama explores the power of language and its ability to unite and divide people in a time of cultural imperialism. Set in the quiet community of Baile Beag (later anglicized to Ballybeg), Co. Donegal, most of the town's poor inhabitants have never experienced life outside of the village.

The play opens with Owen, youngest son of the schoolmaster Hugh and brother to aspiring teacher Manus, returning home after six years away in Dublin. Owen acts as a translator between the local residents and two British soldiers, the stern Captain Lancey (Graeme Malcolm) and young, romantic Lieutenant George Yolland (Chandler Williams), sent to map the area for military purposes. Owen wears a red coat similar to that of the military, and in sharp contrast to the ragged clothes of the locals. Yolland and Owen work to translate local place names into English for the map; Druim Dubh becomes Dromduff and Poll na gCaorach becomes Poolkerry. While Owen has no qualms about anglicizing the names of places that are part of his heritage, Yolland, who has fallen in love with Ireland, is unhappy with what he perceives as a destruction of Irish culture and language.

Inviting himself to a party in town, the British Lieutenant and the local girl take off on their own. She longs to learn his language and sees it as the way forward in the future. He is entranced by her language and wants the people to preserve it. They start with a "Me: Tarzan-You: Jane" moment ("George!" "Maire.") while trying to express their feelings for each other.

Maire: Say anything at all. I love the sound of your voice.
George: Sorry, Sorry. Go on, say anything at all. I love the sound of your voice... I wish to God you could understand me.
Maire: Soft hands - a gentleman's hands.
George: Because if you could understand me... I would tell you how beautiful you are.
Maire: Don't stop.
George: I'm trembling because of you.
Maire: I'm trembling, too.

This romantic scene speaks to anyone who has ever felt the awkward moments of a new love, using language to underscore the learning process involved in a relationship. Meanwhile, Manus, who had hoped to marry Maire, sees them together and naturally becomes a suspect when Yolland becomes missing under mysterious circumstances. The consequences mean that life in once serene Baile Beag changes drastically.

Niall Buggy is perfectly pompous as Hugh, the master of a small hedge school. A veteran of the New York stage, he has starred in The Weir and in Brian Friel's Aristocrats (Obie and Drama Desk winner), as well as Uncle Vanya (Irish Theatre Award), The Importance of Being Oscar and Shadow of a Gunman. In London, he won a TMA Theatre Award for Best Actor in Juno and the Paycock. Buggy has also appeared in the popular TV comedy, "Father Ted."

Susan Lynch is lovely as Maire, who wants to learn English so that she can go to America and rise above the poverty of Ballybeg. The character is charming, yet determined to overcome her economic circumstances. Despite her natural cultural connection with Manus, she begins to fall for Lieutenant Yolland, who shows as much appreciation for the Irish language as she does for his English. Lynch has appeared at the National Theatre in London and has won three Irish film awards for acting in movies such as The Secret of Roan Inish and Waking Ned Devine.

Chandler Williams, in his Broadway debut, is terrific as the idealistic British cartographer, who falls in love with both Ballybeg and the beautiful Maire. He becomes the conscience for Owen, who willingly anglicizes the local place names, by expressing his own appreciation for the local culture. Although he tries hard to fit in, and seems likeable enough, Yolland is ultimately unable to become part of the community he wishes to espouse.

David Costabile plays the lovelorn Manus, who longs for Maire. He has previously starred in regional productions of Translations.

Owen: What are we trying to do?
Yolland: Good question.
Owen: We are trying to denominate and at the same time describe. Dun na nGall or Donegal? Muineachain or Monaghan? Same place, same difference?

Owen even says of his own name, "Owen - Roland - what the hell. It's only a name." Later, he begins to soul-search after experiencing Lieutenant Yolland's appreciation for the Irish language and the harshness and arrogance of Lancey ("Do your job: Translate!"). Cox gives a strong performance. He has previously acted with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre in London.

Michael Fitzgerald adds frenetic comic flair as the appropriately named Doalty, who understands as well as anyone the consequences of the events that have taken place in Ballybeg. He has appeared in The Plough and the Stars at the Abbey Theatre and Philadelphia, Here I Come! at the Irish Rep. The actor holds a BA in Drama and Theatre Studies from Trinity College Dublin.

Geraldine Hughes (Bridget) received critical acclaim for her solo work Belfast Blues. She also has appeared in The Cripple of Inishmaan and The Weir and played a role in the recent hit film, Rocky Balboa.

Morgan Hallett plays Sarah, a character who has difficulty expressing herself in any language. Graeme Malcolm (Captain Lancey) effectively conveys the authoritativeness of a British soldier of the Colonial era. Stage veteran Dermot Crowley is entertaining as Jimmy Jack, obsessed with Greek literature and goddesses. Crowley previously appeared in The Weir and has a role in the Oscar-nominated film Babel, which is up for Best Picture.