Fresh from his artistic and - even more important - his commercially successful run at the Etcetera Arms with Safe House, Eamon McDonnell has hit the ground running, and brings The Gift to the Greenwich Playhouse. It first appeared as Calum and Ned, then got retitled for last year's showcase, where it played in an edited form, but this is the full unexpurgated version. Once again, Eamon is bringing in such P-P stalwarts as Victoria Johnston, Chris Prior, and Phil Philmar, and it's being directed by Dimitry Devdiani, who's directed his fair share of P-P showcases.According to the flier:
"The Gift is a hauntingly lyrical one-act drama set around the Irish borderlands, where lonely, widowed farmer Ned works his land, not so much for wealth as to wash away the days. When Belfast stranger Callum inherits a nearby farm, Ned looks forward to making friends with his new neighbour, only to find the other man is a reticent loner.
"Callum carries a burden of guilt. But as the drama unfolds, we discover he is not alone in harbouring a dark secret, for Ned has one of his own..."
Yes. I remember. I think I even chaired the discussion afterwards. Anyway, I shall certainly be going, and I suggest you do too. It's a four week run, from 13th October, to 8th November at 8 o'clock with a four o'clock showing on Sundays. Tickets are 12 quid, and 10 quid for senior citizens, registered disabled, students and the unemployed.
Went for the First Night and thoroughly enjoyed it. P-P members will be delighted by the performances of Christopher Prior and Phil Philmar as lonely neighbours on the Ulster borders. Christopher is a widower with a strange belief in the power of leprechauns and Phil is a guilt-laden newcomer from Belfast (which gives us a clue as to why he is haunted by the spirit of the beautiful Victoria Johnston). Chris is haunted too, by the ghost of his deceased wife, Georgina Bryce, who shows him far more affection and melting tenderness than the old brute deserves. Both men are in search of redemption and they do have one glorious day together at the Drumnelson races (a terrific scene). But in the end only one of them is saved. This is a beguiling production with a very clever stage set and sensitive direction. A Must See. Press night on Thursday and a Q&A session chaired by John Morrison.
ReplyDeleteI urge you all to go and see this production: it's really first class
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