A dark and devilish delight

http://dp.la/api/items/5bb68b8cfaf91665c03bb41abfca4d41

A dark and devilish delight

McPherson, Conor, 1971

Harvey, Jay

Friedman, Erik Allen

Curry, Julie

Witting, Karen

2/20/09

Article from The Indianapolis Star

THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR • INDYSTAR.COMFRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20,2009 • AHthe buzzA dark and devilish delightBy Jay [email protected] of this decade's political culture has been steeped in warningsabout evil embodied in people whoaren't like us.So it's refreshing to have a work ofart rub our noses in what we knew allalong: that the devil moves among uswith ease because he has our numberand feels at home wherever we are.He's a boon companion — someone we might share holiday drinkswith and deal into a game of poker.Thus he sits down in the often savagehousehold of two Irish brothers oneChristmas Eve, joined by a pair offriends — one amiable, one abrasive— in Conor McPherson's "The Seafarer."The dark suspense comedy hasjust entered its penultimate weekendat the Phoenix Theatre, and the castby Thursday night was frighteninglywell-honed. Smooth unfolding of therough-and-tumble action, with itswhiff of the supernatural, is a creditto Erik Allen Friedman's direction.But it's also practically a requirementfor a play like this, which would benothing but clanking echoes ofChristian doctrine and folklore if itwere not expertly brought off.The sturdy construction of theplay certainly helps, with its nice balance of revelation and mystery aboutthe characters. Their blather, needling and carping — fueled by enormous quantities of strong drink —can swerve suddenly into areas offestering guilt, humiliation and inadequacy. And, following some divinelaw of the Irish stage, the languageleaps and sparkles.Newly blind because of a stupidaccident, Richard (Rich Komenich)is by turns a querulous bully and aparty animal. He cruelly manipulatesyounger brother Sharkey (DougJohnson), a maelstrom of suffering,sticking a thumb in his eye by inviting the glib, predatory Nicky (Michael Shelton) over to play cards.Will Carlson plays the rather haplessIvan, whose whining is mitigated byhis good-buddy aid to Richard.As Shakespeare wisely notes, "Theprince of darkness is a gentleman," soMcPherson's Mr. Lockhart seems outof place in this company. But KurtOwens' steely but sometimes touching performance brings off the play-The SeafarerWhen: 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays,7 p.m. Thursday.Where: Phoenix Theatre, 749 N. Park Ave.Tickets: $25 for age 25 and older, $15 forage 24 and younger; $15 all seatsThursday; call (317) 635-PLAY.Bottom line: Contemporary Irish playtouches deftly on evil in a well-knitproduction.wright's theological probes convincingly. The devil has come to drive ahard bargain, and the likely outcomeseems certain to rule out God'smercy.An adage about the well-madeplay has it that if a gun is mentionedin Act 1, somebody will get popped inAct 3 — and it won't be collateraldamage, but a major plot resolution.Let's just say that Ivan's comicallymissing glasses in the first act launchthe same trick in this two-acter. Howit comes out is quite satisfying. Yet"The Seafarer" warns that, despitesetbacks, the devil's often in his element among us.* Call Star reporter Jay Harveyat (317) 444-6402.

Phoenix Theatre (Indianapolis, Ind.)

Theater -- Indiana -- Indianapolis

Theater -- Reviews

Male friendship

Black humor

Supernatural -- Drama

Fictitious characters

Accidents

Blind

Bullies

Brothers

Sibling rivalry

Playing cards

Good and evil

Schedules (Time plans)

Irish

Villages -- Ireland

Metaphor

Komenich, Rich -- Performances

Johnson, Doug -- Performances

Shelton, Michael -- Performances

Carlson, Will -- Performances

Owens, Kurt -- Performances

Indiana Memory

English

text

http://ulib.iupuidigital.org/cdm/ref/collection/PT/id/15100