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James O Neill sailed to America from
the South East of Ireland in 1850 where he had a successful career as an actor.
So it was fitting that the first professional production of a work by his
famous son, Eugene should have an Irish premiere in Waterford.
Luminaries from the Irish theatre scene and local arts and business
community turned out to fill the house for the opening night of A Moon for the Misbegotten directed by
Ben Barnes at the Theatre Royal last night.
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| James O Neill |
It is a play of two halves each focussing on a
relationship between a trio of central characters. In the first act we meet
Phil Hogan, Irish American tenant farmer a father figure from the Big
Maggie stable of frightful parents. Having dispatched the last of his sons,
Mike (an excellent cameo from Cilian Jacob in his first professional role), we
have an extended dialogue exploring the relationship between
the garrulous Phil and feisty daughter, Josie. Mark Lambert and Kate Forbes are excellent
in portraying the nuances of their roles.
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| Donald Sage Mackay |
Phil it appears is anxious that his farm will
be sold to his wealthy next door neighbour. There is a humorous cameo from
Michael Quinlan in the role of Harder who pops in to complain about Phil's pigs
in his pond. The only solution it seems is to trick his genial alcoholic
landlord, Jim Tyrone into a shotgun wedding with Josie. The meat in the
final act is an extended late night dialogue between Jim played by American
actor, Donald Sage Mackay and Josie, two ‘misbegotten’ souls whose bluster and
bravado is exposed under the moonlight as camouflage for
the feelings of guilt and desolation
both harbour. Mackay, a familiar face from many TV and film appearances is an
imposing stage presence convincing in conveying good humoured nonchalance in
early scenes and torment in Act 3
The production is visually very pleasing.
Joe Vanek's tall triangular farmhouse set inspired by the paintings of Andrew
Wyeth, frames the action evoking 1920's rural Conneticut.
Over the course of the play the Anne Wrightsons' striking lighting
effects bathe the set in a palette of orange, blue and sand as day turns to
night. I
'May you rest in peace forever in forgiveness and
peace' Josie's words to a departing Jim steer an evening of turbulent, powerful
emotions to a conclusion of peace at
last.
Final night in Waterford Sat 12th March
moving to Belfast and Rochester NY
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| Pennsylvania Barn Wyeth |
Related posts Jim Nolan Premiere at Garter lane
Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye: Premiere at Garter Lane
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