Whimsical, heartwarming ‘The Irish - and How They Got That Way’ at the Ivoryton Playhouse
3 Stars
(4 stars is excellent, 3 stars is good, 2 stars is fair, and 1 star is poor)
Location: Ivoryton Playhouse, 103 Main Street, Ivoryton, CT
Production: By Frank McCourt. Directed by Jacqueline Hubbard. Music direction by John De Nicola. Scenic design by William Russell Stark. Stage manager T.Rick Jones. Lighting design by Doug Harry. Costume design by Vickie Blake.
Running time: 2 hours including 15-minute intermission.
Show Times: Wednesday and Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturdays at 8 p.m., with Wednesday and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. through Apr. 3.
Tickets: $40 for adults, $35 for seniors, $20 for students, and $15 for children 12 and under. Call the box office at 860-767-7318, or visit their website atwww.ivorytonplayhouse.org
ACTOR…CHARACTER
Morgan Crowley … Himself
Annie Kerins … Herself
Michael McDermott … Himself
Kathleen Mulready … Herself
IVORYTON — What could be more fitting around St. Patrick’s Day than an evening of Irish songs and stories presented with whimsy and enthusiasm to spare in Frank McCourt’s “The Irish … And How They Got That Way” at the Ivoryton Playhouse.
Kicking off their 100th season, the youthful cast sings many old Irish tunes, including “The Rose of Tralee” and “Danny Boy,” sung by the fine Morgan Crowley. They also talk about the history of the Irish people, from around the time of the great potato famine onward.
McCourt is best known for his award-winning book, “Angela’s Ashes,” about the unspeakable poverty and privation of his childhood in Ireland. In this musical show, there are plenty of amusing tales, but just as many horror stories about the famine that wiped out a quarter of the Irish population in the 1840s, as well as the callous response by some of the English to their plight.
As one actor said, quoting Irish writer John Mitchell, “The Almighty, indeed, sent the potato blight, but the English created the famine.”
There are many stories of generosity too from all over the world, particularly North America, followed by a reactionary dislike of the Irish when hundreds of thousands, many of whom were illiterate and poor, emigrated to the United States, which prompted the song “No Irish Need Apply.”
The list of famous Irish is seemingly endless, and includes George M. Cohan who wrote many beloved songs that were sung during the performance, including “Yankee Doodle Dandy,” “Give My Regards To Broadway,” “Over There,” and “It’s A Grand Old Flag.”
People like John F. Kennedy, Kate Smith, William Butler Yeats, Oscar Wilde, Eugene O’Neill, George Bernard Shaw, Georgia O’Keeffe, James Joyce, Mickey Rooney, Bing Crosby, and even Walt Disney, are a few of the many Irish folk named, and the list could probably have gone on, until one of the performers said self-mockingly, “Stop, or we’ll sound like we’re bragging.”
However, poking fun at English cuisine, as they do in this show, strikes me as a bit of “the pot calling the kettle black,” since the Irish aren’t traditionally known for their haute cuisine either.
McCourt observes, “It isn’t easy being Irish,” and doesn’t hold back about the high levels of alcoholism among them, also noting that, although they had a “special gift” for politics, the Irish were also involved in their fair share of political graft and corruption.
Crowley and the three other performers, Michael McDermott, Kathleen Mulready, and Annie Kerins, work well together, being serious when called for, as well as kicking up their heels, having a ball, and giving us an Irish history lesson to boot.
The single set of panels by William Russell Stark works well too, and the slide show of photos projected onto the center panel adds much to the story, directed by Jacqueline Hubbard.
Sadly, McCourt died in 2009, but his brother, Malachy McCourt, was on hand at the performance Friday, and gave one of his own at the end, regaling the audience with stories of his life and the Irish that rivaled the scripted show and brought the audience to tears of laughter.
Extend the St. Patrick’s Day celebration by seeing this delightful show, playing through April 3.
Kicking off their 100th season, the youthful cast sings many old Irish tunes, including “The Rose of Tralee” and “Danny Boy,” sung by the fine Morgan Crowley. They also talk about the history of the Irish people, from around the time of the great potato famine onward.
McCourt is best known for his award-winning book, “Angela’s Ashes,” about the unspeakable poverty and privation of his childhood in Ireland. In this musical show, there are plenty of amusing tales, but just as many horror stories about the famine that wiped out a quarter of the Irish population in the 1840s, as well as the callous response by some of the English to their plight.
As one actor said, quoting Irish writer John Mitchell, “The Almighty, indeed, sent the potato blight, but the English created the famine.”
There are many stories of generosity too from all over the world, particularly North America, followed by a reactionary dislike of the Irish when hundreds of thousands, many of whom were illiterate and poor, emigrated to the United States, which prompted the song “No Irish Need Apply.”
The list of famous Irish is seemingly endless, and includes George M. Cohan who wrote many beloved songs that were sung during the performance, including “Yankee Doodle Dandy,” “Give My Regards To Broadway,” “Over There,” and “It’s A Grand Old Flag.”
People like John F. Kennedy, Kate Smith, William Butler Yeats, Oscar Wilde, Eugene O’Neill, George Bernard Shaw, Georgia O’Keeffe, James Joyce, Mickey Rooney, Bing Crosby, and even Walt Disney, are a few of the many Irish folk named, and the list could probably have gone on, until one of the performers said self-mockingly, “Stop, or we’ll sound like we’re bragging.”
However, poking fun at English cuisine, as they do in this show, strikes me as a bit of “the pot calling the kettle black,” since the Irish aren’t traditionally known for their haute cuisine either.
McCourt observes, “It isn’t easy being Irish,” and doesn’t hold back about the high levels of alcoholism among them, also noting that, although they had a “special gift” for politics, the Irish were also involved in their fair share of political graft and corruption.
Crowley and the three other performers, Michael McDermott, Kathleen Mulready, and Annie Kerins, work well together, being serious when called for, as well as kicking up their heels, having a ball, and giving us an Irish history lesson to boot.
The single set of panels by William Russell Stark works well too, and the slide show of photos projected onto the center panel adds much to the story, directed by Jacqueline Hubbard.
Sadly, McCourt died in 2009, but his brother, Malachy McCourt, was on hand at the performance Friday, and gave one of his own at the end, regaling the audience with stories of his life and the Irish that rivaled the scripted show and brought the audience to tears of laughter.
Extend the St. Patrick’s Day celebration by seeing this delightful show, playing through April 3.
Photo: Morgan Crowley
Photo credit: Anne Hudson
No comments:
Post a Comment