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Dublin Carol<\/em><\/strong> 132 West 22nd Street Playwright: Conor McPherson<\/strong> Before this weekend\u2019s out, try to see the last few performances of Irish Rep\u2019s version of \u201cDublin Carol,\u201d Conor McPherson\u2019s insightful meditation on the ravages of alcohol addiction and its consequences. Following a fairly rudimentary story line, this extended one act (90 minutes) has lead character John Plunkett (Jeffrey Bean) recalling his a shameful drink-soaked past and shattered life. After handling a funeral on Christmas Eve with his 20-year-old helper Mark (Cillian Hegarty), John tells his sad history about how drinking destroyed much of his life and ruined his relationship with his family. John’s grown daughter Mary (Sarah Street) \u2014 who hasn’t seen him in a decade \u2014 arrives to tell him that her mother, his long-estranged wife, is dying. This unexpected Christmas Eve visit forces John to confront his demons and offer him a chance at redemption.<\/p>\n Does he really achieve any kind of realization? He\u2019s still drinking, albeit less, and still castigating himself about what he has done. Rather than have the kind of acceptance he needs to move forward, he still fluctuates between escape and guilt. Though the play hints that the source of his addictions \u2014 a violently abusive father \u2014 still thrashes him, his daughter\u2019s appearance and the consideration of a son seemingly long lost to him, suggests he still can make amends. This trio does a masterful job of making such ordinary but personally dire circumstances seem meaningful and profound without overtly shouting that the simple story line is about affairs of the heart. Anyone who has ever dealt with alcoholism or those who are set upon by the affliction will relate.<\/p>\n As the Rep\u2019s sixth McPherson production, director Ciar\u00e1n O\u2019Reilly employs an intuitive understanding of the play to allow the actors to give such naturalistic performances. The others include \u201cSt. Nicholas\u201d (2010), \u201cThe Weir\u201d (2013 & 2015), \u201cPort Authority\u201d (2014), \u201cShining City\u201d (2016), and \u201cThe Seafarer\u201d (2018). This play has had\u00a0 a limited but sterling history, premiering in London\u2019s Royal Court Theatre\/Jerwood Theatre Downstairs in Spring of 2000 with Brian Cox ( Plunkett), Bronagh Gallagher (Mary) and Andrew Scott (Mark). Then, it opened Off-Broadway at the Atlantic Theater Company (running from February 20, 2003 to April 6, 2003) and was directed by McPherson himself with a sterling trio of Keith Nobbs, Jim Norton and Amy Ryan. Nominated for the 2003 Lucille Lortel Award, Best Play, Norton won the 2003 Obie Award, Performance. Then from Nov 6th, 2008 to January 4, 2009, it was produced by the Steppenwolf Theatre Company, in Chicago with this cast — William Petersen (John), Nicole Wiesner (Mary) and Stephen Louis Grush (Mark), and was directed by Amy Morton. Now the Rep adds to its place in New York’s theatrical history with this solid off-Broadway showcase.<\/p>\n Born on August 6, 1971, Dubliner McPherson has made quite a mark as a leader of Ireland’s new playwrights but thanks to writing such a production as this, he proves tobe\u00a0 a man rich in dialogue and worthy of catching any of his efforts. Look out for when tickets go on sale for “Girl From the North Country,” Mcpherson’s next production\u00a0 where the playwright uses Bob Dylan\u2019s back catalog to create “a dialogue between the drama and the songs that makes this show exceptional” as The Guardian, one of London’s leading newspapers described it.<\/p>\n
\nIrish Repertory Theatre
\nthe Francis J. Greenburger Mainstage
\nSept. 20th – Nov. 10th, 2019<\/p>\n
\nNew York, NY 10011
\nBox Office: 212-727-2737
\nOffice: 212-255-0270<\/p>\n
\nDirector: Ciar\u00e1n O\u2019Reilly<\/strong>
\nCast: Jeffrey Bean<\/strong>, Cillian Hegarty<\/strong>, and Sarah Street<\/strong><\/p>\nShare this:<\/h3>