Irish Repertory Theatre Presents A TOUCH OF THE POET Review — Pride, Foolishness, and the American Dream

“We Irish pride ourselves on our resilience and ability to spin a good yarn,” said Ciarán O’Reilly, the Producing Director of Irish Repertory Theatre, before the opening credits began.

Soon after, we are transported to Boston 1828. The camera—starting with a faraway scope—closes in on the realistically-animated bar and inn owned by our protagonists. Muted brown and gray tones cover the dull room, consisting of a few tables, a door which leads into the bar, and a cluttered mantle overhanging a fireplace.

One of the bar’s regulars stumbles in, a bit disheveled, and begins to gab with the bartender about the previous night's events. They speak of their fondness of liquor and of their friend who was with them—the owner of the bar and former, highly decorated major in the war, Con Melody.

Melody is a proud man, too proud for his own good, as his daughter—who also works in the bar—states time and again while sparring with him. Though he continuously puts on airs, in private, the former major slams his family with insults and vainly fools himself into thinking he is still a man of glory, despite his poor immigrant status.

“I stood among them, but not of them,” he says, on multiple occasions, while staring into the mirror.

The play takes place on the anniversary of his most accomplished day as a member of the army, and he will stoop to new lows in order to ensure that those around him recognize the man of stature he is, whether they are old friends or new enemies—even if that includes violence, drunkenness, adultery, and lashings from his wicked tongue.

Cast:

House of Suarez, House of Decay, House of GhettoBelle Aykroyd (Sara Melody), Ciaran Byrne (Dan Roche), Robert Cuccioli (Cornelius “Con” Melody), Kate Forbes (Nora Melody), Mary McCann (Deborah Harford), Andy Murray (Cregan), David O’Hara (Paddy O’Dowd), Tim Ruddy (Mickey Maloy), David Sitler (Patch Riley), John C. Vennema (Nicholas Gadsby)

Creative Team:

Written by Eugene O’Neill, Directed by Ciarán O’Reilly, Set Design by Charlie Corcoran, Costume Design by Alejo Vietti, Lighting Design by Michael Gottlieb, Sound Design and Mix by M. Florian Staab, Original Music by Ryan Rumery, Video Editing by Sarah Nichols, Hair and Wig Design by Robert Charles Vallance, Makeup Artist: Joe Dulude, Production Coordinator: April Ann Kline, Production Assistant: Simon Geaney, Dialect Coach: Amanda Quaid, Casting: Deborah Brown, Assistant Director: Liam Prendergast, Associate Costume Designer: Gale Baldoni