Each March brings the annual Irish Players of Rochester
production, and this year the group has chosen a modern day comedy with a
Mephistophelean twist. “The Seafarer,” which opened this weekend at MuCCC, is
categorized as “an Irish comedy with tragic possibilities.” Essentially, it’s a
black comedy with plenty of humor on morbid or weighty topics, which is
something Irish dramatists have always done well.
Contemporary
Dublin playwright Conor McPherson (“The Weir,” “Shining City”) debuted the play
in 2006 as both author and director, and garnered multiple Tony Award
nominations by 2008. The name of the play is drawn from an Old English elegy of
the same name. The 124-line poem is a first person tale of a man’s solo journey
at sea. Like the play’s dark comic nature, the poem is a lament of sorts, but a
moral lesson shines through the narrative.
The plot is
set in present day Ireland and follows James “Sharky” Harkin (Tom Bigongiari),
who moves back to his home in Baldoyle (a coastal area just outside Dublin) to
take care of his brother Richard (John Jaeger), who’s recently gone blind.
Christmas Eve arrives, and Richard invites a few visitors over to play poker:
their liquor-loving friend Ivan (Ken Dauer), neighbor Nicky (Gregory Ludek),
and Nicky’s friend Mr. Lockhart (Mark John Donahue).
Director
Jean Ryon, who’s directed often with IPR in the past, has selected a skilled
cast for the five-man show and guides them deftly. Sharing the “lead” roles are
Bigongiari, who is a fresh face in the IPR, and Jaeger, who’s been nominated
for many awards with the group in years previous. The actors are convincing as
an aging, brotherly duo learning to live together again and resenting one
another, yet caring for each other deep down.
Bigongiari
establishes an emotional connection with the audience as he navigates the
struggles of a recovering alcoholic with a past, while Jaeger’s Irish lilt and
portrayal of blindness are simply stunning in their authenticity. Playing their
old friend Ivan is Dauer, who has held many local roles. While his accent
wavers between Rochesterian and Irish, Dauer captures the duality of a man who
is a sensitive and caring friend but a less-than-ambitious head of his
household. Gregory Ludek, another IPR veteran, plays Nicky, who’s an old friend
of the family and a bit of a man about town.
Joining
Bigongiari in his IPR debut is Mark John Donahue, who has appeared in several
Shakespeare Players productions at Highland Bowl. As Mr. Lockhart, Donahue
brings a multifaceted performance that carries act two with its intensity, and
his soliloquies — some of the play’s best writing — are truly chilling.
This is a
play that relies on fast, witty chunks of dialogue. Add Irish accents, cues,
line memorization — and this small cast had their work cut out for them.
Fortunately, it’s a challenge to find a weak link among the ensemble. The five
actors remain truly alert throughout the two and a half hour run, and it keeps
the show engaging.
The set is
built to look like the inside of a ramshackle coastal cottage, with smudged
walls, rundown furniture and a potbellied stove. As set designers and prop
masters Ken and Kathy Dauer have created a painstakingly accurate living room,
with a glimpse into the kitchen. The only thing that’s a little confusing is
the front door area, which also suggests a staircase, window, and landing all
in the same place. However, the layout doesn’t impede the play’s effectiveness,
so it’s not worth overthinking.
Kathy Dauer
also designed costumes — Richard’s crusty sweater, in particular, is a triumph.
Real food and drink is consumed onstage, a strong choice in such an intimate
space where empty cups and plates would be spotted by sharp-eyed theatregoers
who crave a touch of legitimacy. Although the music was a little inconsistent
during scene changes and didn’t direct the mood as it could have, the sound
effects (which mostly encompassed household noises) were well done.
“The
Seafarer” will be performed again at the Acting Irish International Theatre
Festival in Milwaukee on May 27. The Irish Players of Rochester has been part
of the festival since 2003, and the group has taken home many awards for
individual and ensemble performances (next year, the festival will take place
in Rochester).
“The
Seafarer” is, without a doubt, one of the most captivating shows to appear at
MuCCC in months — and it’s absolutely worth making time to attend.
This article appears in Mar 23-29, 2016.
