Preview by Brad Balfour
Origin Theatre’s 1st Irish Festival
January 9 – 31, 2023
Various Venues Throughout New York
Now in its 15th installment — and returning to being fully in-person for the first time since the pandemic’s start — the Origin Theatre’s 1st Irish Festival kicks off this January 9th, 2023. Running three weeks to Tuesday January 31, it can be experienced at venues across the city including the 59E59 Theaters, the Irish Repertory Theatre, the Irish Arts Center, The Cell, and Symphony Space in Manhattan; the NY Irish Center in Queens, and An Beal Bocht in The Bronx. The Festival features productions, readings, workshops, and more from Ireland and the United States.
First Irish opens officially with the US premiere of “Heaven” produced by Dublin’s Olivier Award-winning Fishamble Theatre Company. Set in County Offaly, Ireland, during the weekend of a local wedding, guests Mairead and Mal struggle to keep their marriage together. Perhaps attending a wedding will help, or it might raise questions that are difficult to answer. Written by Eugene O’Brien (winner of the Rooney Prize for Literature for “Eden”), and directed by JimCulleton (Irish Times Best Director Award winner, 2019), “Heaven” examines family bonds, life decisions, and the search for happiness in contemporary Ireland. Performances at 59E59 Theatres from Jan 11 to 29.
“Frankenstein’s Monster Is Drunk And The Sheep Have All Jumped The Fences” follows the titular creature. Dejected at the end of his career in Hollywood, he goes off in search of love in a remote village. Produced and performed by Big Telly from Northern Ireland. Performances at 59E59 Theatres from Jan. 11 – 29.
“Endgame” tells the story of Hamm (John Douglas Thompson) who is reduced to living in one room, in which he sits chair bound, blind and bored. His only deliverance from this interminable monotony is the company of his aging, legless parents (JoeGrifasi and Patrice Johnson), who live in garbage bins and his limping servant, Clov (Bill Irwin), who is at his beck and call, and who like a dog comes when whistled for. The only thing left for Hamm is to wait for the inevitable end. Performances at the Irish Rep Jan. 25 – Mar. 12.
The festival also includes a film debut. “The Letters,” director Robbie Walsh’s award-winner about three women from different walks of life who believe they have weeks to live due to the false results of their cervical cancer checks. “The Letters,” which garnered four stars in the RTE Guide when it premiered in Ireland, stars Sarah Carroll, Mary Murray, Kathleen Yates, Aishling O’Neill, John Connors, Chris Newman and Robbie Walsh. Screening at Ryan’s Daughter Thur. Jan. 26, 7pm.
Other Festival highlights include: a mini festival-within-the-festival at the cell — “Femme First” – featuring workshop productions of three new plays by local women playwrights. Seen in rep at The Cell, the series includes “Great White American Teeth” written and performed by Fiona Walsh; “The Funny Thing About Death,” written and performed by Kim Kalish, and “It’s in the Play,” written by Orlagh Cassidy and Kate Lardner and performed by Cassidy.
The Festival’s Closing Ceremony on Monday Jan 30 will feature excerpts from “Peace and Love in Brooklyn,” and a surprise appearance by the celebrated Cross Border Orchestra of Ireland, which will be in the midst of an all-Ireland tour prior to its Carnegie Hall appearance on St Patrick’s Day. Appearing virtually from Ireland, the youth orchestra will play with members of the Fairfield County Children’s Choir, who will appear live on stage. The evening concludes with the Festival Awards that will recognize unique contributions to the Festival.
The final event of the Festival, “Origin’s St Brigid’s Eve,” marks the feast of the patroness saint of Ireland, Saint Brigid, who this year is honored with a new public holiday in Ireland. At the NY Irish Center, the Cuala Foundation presents brings a special staged reading of a new play by Maura Mulligan, “Brigid,” featuring songs from Grammy-winning vocalist Susan McKeown. This festive gathering marks the halfway point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox, will continue with a panel conversation moderated by McKeown on “Reflections on Modern-Day Brigid Connections.” Performance at the NY Irish Center Tue Jan 31 at 7pm.
Now in its 20th anniversary season, Origin 1st Irish 2023 is curated by Michael “Mick” Mellamphy, Origin Theater’s artistic director since 2021.This is the third 1st Irish Festival in a row curated by Mellamphy.
For more info, go to: https://www.origintheatre.org/