Missed connections in the sad "Life... of Eric Argyle"

Davey Kelleher and Manus Halligan in “The Life and Sort of Death of Eric Argyle,” a 15th Oak production. Part of 1st Irish at 59E59 Theaters. Photo by Lucy Nuzum

That old saying about "living lives of quiet desperation" comes to mind from time to time.

In Ross Dungan's “The Life and Sort of Death of Eric Argyle,” a 15th Oak production. Part of 1st Irish at 59E59 Theaters, through September 29th, it is a constant theme.

Katie Lyons, Karen Sheridan and Erica Murray in “The Life and Sort of Death of Eric Argyle,” a 15th Oak production. Part of 1st Irish at 59E59 Theaters. Photo by Lucy Nuzum

The construct in "...Eric Argyle" is sort of a death council, gathered to judge him on the basis of the contents of a book he has written. That book is as disorganized -- he began it on page 231 and moved on to page 656--  as the plot of the play that houses it. The lilt of the Irish has great appeal so they can say "shite-all" and still charm. Nonetheless, the story here is more than a bit murky.

Dave McEntegart and Karen Sheridan in “The Life and Sort of Death of Eric Argyle,” a 15th Oak production. Part of 1st Irish at 59E59 Theaters. Photo by Lucy Nuzum

Narration to further exposition is static, and the use of the countdown of time fails to create the intended urgency.

The cast of eight are fine, muddling gamely in and out of a variety of characters. The two Erics (Dave McEntegart as the older and James Murphy as the younger) are preeminently sad sack.

There is also background music to "The Life and Sort of Death of Eric Argyle" strumming on random occasions. The fantastically messy set, designed by Colm McNally, is dispatched for multi-purpose by the hard-working ensemble. 

For more information about "The Life and Sort of Death of Eric Argyle," visit www.59e59.org. 

Powerful "Temporal Powers" Is Part 2 For Mint's Deevy Project

It has been nearly 80 years since Teresa Deevy’s play won the Abbey Theatre’s New Play competition, but “Temporal Powers” still packs a wallop. Set in a small impoverished Irish town in the 1920s,”Temporal Powers,” currently in a production by The Mint Theater Company under the direction of Jonathan Bank, closing 25 Sept., extended to October 2nd 9th was deemed ”strikingly original and of fine literary quality” by the Abbey judges.

Money and the lack of it are powerful tests of any marriage, but the Donovans have such a completely different sense of right and wrong that it is not just their homelessness that can tear them apart. Michael (Aidan Redmond) is a fiercely moral man, so madly in love with Min (Rosie Benton), his wife of ten years, that she can bend his senses in any number of ways.

Aidan Redmond as Michael Donovan, Rosie Benton as Min Donovan (Photo Credit: Richard Termine) 

Michael is content to toil without enriching himself, for the pride of accomplishment. But unlike Michael, Min feels entitled to a better life. And she is not sure that she will get it just being his wife.

(See video at http://vimeo.com/channels/minttheater.)

The plot of “Temporal Powers” subtly twists, asking questions about fairness, and loyalty, as it makes its way around the rich cast of nine characters. The troupe all handle this intelligent material ably. Eli James, along with the leads, gives a particularly admirable performance as Michael’s true friend, Moses Barron. Thanks to the workings of the dialect coach, Amy Stoller, everyone’s speech is convincingly country Irish, yet easy to follow.

Please visit http://www.minttheater.org/ to find out more about “Temporal Powers” and The Mint’s Deevy Project.

"Temporal Powers" is part of the 1st Irish Festival 2011.

Photo Credits: Richard Termine

Eli James as Moses Barron, Wrenn Schmidt as Lizzie Brennan in a scene from Temporal Powers, written by Teresa Deevy and directed by Jonathan Bank presented by The Mint Theater Company 

Paul Carlin as Jim Slattery, Aidan Redmond as Michael Donovan in a scene from Temporal Powers, written by Teresa Deevy and directed by Jonathan Bank presented by The Mint Theater Company 

Aidan Redmond as Michael Donovan, Rosie Benton as Min Donovan in a scene from Temporal Powers, written by Teresa Deevy and directed by Jonathan Bank presented by The Mint Theater Company 

Rosie Benton as Min Donovan in a scene from Temporal Powers, written by Teresa Deevy and directed by Jonathan Bank presented by The Mint Theater Company 

Aidan Redmond as Michael Donovan, Rosie Benton as Min Donovan in a scene from Temporal Powers, written by Teresa Deevy and directed by Jonathan Bank presented by The Mint Theater Company 

"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