Review: Seafarer at Seattle Repertory Theatre
The Broadway hit, The Seafarer is currently playing at the Seattle Repertory Theatre from February 26 – March 28, 2009. The play written by Irish playwright, Conner McPherson, is somber and entertaining. It has been dubbed by the Wall Street Journal as the “Best New Play of the Year” and Tony nominated director Wilson Milam returns to Seattle, from London to direct this play using all local Seattle actors: Russell Hodgkinson, Shawn Telford, Sean G. Griffin, Hans Altwies, and Frank Corrado. The production is a well acted drama that brings myth (otherworldliness), sibling rivaling, and love of Irish whiskey to the stage.
The play takes place in a small working-class area, Baldoyle, Ireland that sits on the isthmus that connects the peninsula Howth to the mainland of Dublin. This area is considered by Irish folklore to be a boundary between the natural and supernatural world.
Sharky (Hans Altwies) returns home to the house now owed by his brother, Richard (Sean G. Griffin), to care of him. But Richard, who is the oldest brother, is blind and does not make it easy for Sharky. Richard is an alcoholic who seems to be able to point out everyone else’s weakness for drink, except his own. His brother Sharky, who has lost his job, has not had a drink in the last two days. The interaction between the brothers is layered by all of the past hurts, bullying, and lost dreams for these two.
It’s Christmas Eve and Ivan (Russell Hodgkinson), a friend, has spent the previous night drinking with Richard and passed out at the brother’s home. So, he’s ready to start again. In preparation, the brothers go out shopping for items to celebrate Christmas, meeting friends in the pub to invite over for Christmas cheer. Nicky (Shawn Telford), who use to be a friend of Sharkey’s, gets invited by Richard, much to Sharkey’s anger. An unexpected guest also comes along with Nicky, Mr. Lockhart (Frank Carrado) AKA Satan. Mr. Lockhart has come to collect on a debt.
The acting by everyone seemed to be effortlessly very tight and connected. Richard, the older brother, is caustic and cruel in his relationship with Sharky. Mr. Griffn takes this role and really makes it work, from his physical stumbling around, to using his cane to assist or hit others as he makes his way around the house. Then as the play progresses and certainly the last half, he is able to show you the sweet side of a man who does love his brother. Ivan, played by Mr. Hodgkinson is the comedian and from the first time he appears on the stage he is looking for his glasses. Throughout the play he is the funniest but at the end he is the savior. Mr. Altwies is able to show Sharkey’s pain and his failures in a long suffering manner and you feel for him. Nicky is also very funny in his role while Mr. Lockhart is sufficiently scary enough, that I would not want to meet him a dark alley.
The design and set are all elements that help draw you into what is happening on stage. A two story ramshackle home is the perfect setting. When Richard and Ivan at different times climb the steps, you hold your breath hoping they can manage in their drunken state, the stairs. The layout worked with conversations happening in different parts of the house. Scenic Designer, Eugene Lee, production designer for Saturday Night Live for the last 35 years, uses the whole stage to tell this story.
Overall, I enjoyed this play for a number of reasons; It’s a drama that starts out rather dark, alcoholism is not funny but with a cast that delivers, you begin to see all sides to these characters along with the very funny behavior you see when people try to do the best they can. I felt connected to them and was concerned and hoping for the best outcome for them against the devil. By the end of the play, I felt their was hope for Richard and Sharky’s relationship. The possibility of a new beginning for Sharky seems to loom on the horizon.
Performances of The Seafarer run through March 28, 2009. There will be a special St. Patrick’s Day performance March 17 with an after-show party. Tickets to The Seafarer range from $15-$59 and anyone 25 and under may purchase tickets for only $10 for any performance. Taste of the Rep: On March 13, for an additional $20 (cost does not include admission to the show) enjoy traditional Irish food catered by T.S. McHugh’s along with Guinness and Irish whiskey at 6:15pm prior to the performance.
For more info and tickets visit www.seattlerep.org.
– Ethel W.
