At the intimate and renowned Irish Repertory Theater, we were enthralled with a taut, emotional three-hander by Connor McPherson. Under the masterful direction of Ciaran O’Reilly, the drama focused on a tense and troubled alcoholic, John (Jeffrey Bean). The compact design of Charlie Corcoran combines living quarters and the funeral parlor he manages. He took over from the uncle of young Mark (Cillan Hegarty). Just as John had been, the lad is now an apprentice in the business. Simple decorations, including an Advent Calendar, testify to Christmas Eve. That entails toasts that extend beyond celebration. After Mark leaves Mary (Sarah Street), his estranged daughter, appears. Her hope is that he will join her at the deathbed of his wife. It is her final wish to have closure. Literally bathed in sweat we witness John devastated at this prospect. She will return in the morning, and he takes the intervening time for a bender. With its focus on Irish drama, IRT has produced yet another riveting gem. The scale of the theater draws us in and makes the play all the more intimate, devastating and memorable. This was a remarkable highlight of a week of NY theater.
