"Dublin By Lamplight" Shines Brightly

William (Willy) Hayes (Jered McLenigan), a playwright spoofing William Butler Yeats and perhaps William Fay, is on the verge of the debut of his great Irish play, "The Wooing of Emer," at The Irish National Theatre of Ireland. He also hopes to give his Theatre a permanent home through his benefactress, Eva St. John (Megan Bellwoar).

.Jered McLenigan as Willy Hayes in a photo by Katie Reing.  

"Dublin By Lamplight," at 59E59 Theaters through October 2nd is art of the 1st Irish Festival, a four week theatrical celebration of Ireland, and "The Wooing of Emer" is the play within the play.

"Act for Ireland," Willy tells his brother Frank (Jared Michael Delaney), who takes this exhortation as a cry for revolution. Willy intends it in a less political and more artistic way; his spectacle ("The Wooing of Emer") honors Ireland's legendary hero Cuchulain.

All will fall apart for Willy and his dreams for a National Theatre on the eve of the King's visit in Dublin in 1904. Eva, the Emer in his play is arrested for her part in protesting against the English King and with the Daughters of Erin.

Jered McLenigan as Willy with Megan Bellwoar as Eva and Sarah Van Auken as Maggie in a photo by Katie Reing.  

"Dublin By Lamplight" is a commedia dell'arte piece in which each of the characters, made up with mask-like faces, explains himself in the third person as he goes about on this fateful day. Michael West, the playwright of "Dublin By Lamplight" aptly describes the play as a "silent movie with dialogue." Adding to this silent film effect, it is set to piano music composed and performed by John Lionarons.

Ireland would realize a National Theatre (The Abbey Theatre) long before it would achieve nationhood. In "Dublin By Lamplight," the Irish struggle is both comic and poignant.

(See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbey_Theatre for background.)

Megan Bellwoar as Eva and Mike Dees as Martyn Wallace in a photo by Katie Reing.  

Please go to www.59E59.org for a schedule of performances and to 1stIrish.org to learn more about the 1st Irish Festival.

Also part of the 1st Irish Festival and at 59E59 Theaters: "Cirque De Legume." See review at http://tbontheaisleatheaterdiary.blogspot.com/2011/09/actors-revenge-and-other-clowning.html