By Judd
Hollander
Photos by James Higgins
The Irish Repertory Theatre hits a home run with their presentation
of Juno and the Paycock, a searing indictment
of how far a man will go to keep the cloak of deniability about him, while at
the same time showing how some people, no matter how patient and understanding
they may be, eventually reach the breaking point. All brought powerfully home
by J. Smith Cameron and Ciarán O'Reilly as the title characters.
1922 - Dublin ,
Ireland
As it turns out, the entire family may soon get a better
life when Charlie, who works in a law firm, reveals Jack to be one of two heirs
set to receive monies from a huge estate. Overjoyed, the family begins to dream
about what is to come, with no shortage of people willing to offer them credit
once word of the expected windfall spreads. However things are not always as
bright as they first appear and soon talk arises that what has been promised
may not arrive at all as the family's window of opportunity that all too unexpectedly
opened in front of them, slowly and inexorably begins to shut.
Juno and the Paycock
is at its heart a strong family drama with the different political factors that
enveloped Dublin
at the time helping to give it a specific sense of atmosphere. This is nicely
illustrated by having a funeral procession passing by the Boyle's front door
while they celebrate their sudden change of status inside. It also helps
immeasurably that every one of the characters is clearly drawn with nothing
stereotypical or caricature-like about any of them.
Smith-Cameron is superb as Juno, a no-nonsense woman who has
the patience of a saint and the tooth of a serpent. One long since fed up with
the antics of her husband but still sticking by him both for the sake of the
family and because she loves him still. It takes a threat to one of her
children to realize that if she doesn't try to change things for herself and
those around her, no one else will.
O'Reilly does very well with the character of Jack, a rouge
of a fellow with a gift for the blarney. The stories he tells even when
everyone, including the audience, knows full well he is lying are hilarious. The
Captain is not so much a dreamer as he is a realist, accepting his position in
life, happy in drink and in the company of Joxer - a man who's presence can
lead to no good, but Jack is long past the point of caring about such things.
There's a pivotal moment when he realizes what his options are and one can see
just how tiny this once gregarious man has become.
Keating is interesting as Joxer, playing the role as more of
one continually in the right place at the right time rather than a consummate
schemer who cannot be trusted. Likeable enough, he will not think twice of
betraying a friend if it is to his advantage. Joxer is also a born survivor,
always finding someone he can take advantage of and leaving one with no doubt
he will always land on his feet, albeit on the backs of others.
Malone nicely gives Johnny a haunting quality, a man prone
fits of terror as a result of past events and his involvement in them. Mallen
is good as the hopeful Mary, a girl wanting something more than the life to
which she was raised, though she's not above letting her heart get in the way
of reason. O'Hara gives Malone a salt-of-the-earth quality as one who loves
Mary dearly even as she begins to grow beyond him. Russell works well as Bentham,
a man whose motives may not be as pure as originally thought.
Charlotte Moore's direction is excellent here, keeping the
show tightly focused and intimate while allowing the cast and situations to
connect with the audience; be the moments comic, dramatic or a combination of
both. There is also no feeling whatsoever of the show being stilted or
overlong.
James Noone's set of the Boyle home is well done, nicely
adding to the feeling of both the hopelessness, and later hopefulness the
family feels - at least for a while. The lighting effects by Brian Nason are
good and the sound design by M. Florian Staab is strong.
An intimate portrait of a family at wit's end as life
threatens to completely overwhelm them while they continue slowly tearing each
other apart, this production of Juno and
the Paycock is a winner at every level.
Also in the cast are Terry Donnelly, Fiana Tobin, Laurence
Lowry, Ciaran Byrne and Kern McFadden.
Juno and the Paycock
Featuring: Mary Mallen (Mary Boyle), J. Smith-Cameron (June
Boyle), Ed Malone (Johnny Boyle), David O'Hara (Jerry Devine), Ciarán O'Reilly
("Captain" Jack Boyle), John Keating (Joxer Daly), James Russell
(Charlie Bentham), Terry Donnelly (Maisie Madigan), Fiana Tobin (Mrs. Tancred),
Laurence Lowry (Neighbor/An Irregular/A Moving Man), Ciaran Byrne
("Needle" Nugent), Kern McFadden (An Irregular Mobilizer)
Written by Sean O'Casey
Scenic Design: James Noone
Costume Design: David Toser
Lighting Design: Brian Nason
Sound Design: M. Florian Staab
Properties: Sven Henry Nelson
Wigs: Robert Charles Vallence
Dialect Coash: Stephen Gabis
Casting: Deborah Brown
Production Stage Manager: Pamela Brusoski
Assistant Stage Manager: Rebecca C. Monroe
Press Representative: Shirley Herz Associates
Directed by Charlotte Moore
Presented by The Irish Repertory Theatre
Tickets: 212-727-2737 or www.irishrep.org
Running Time: Two Hours, 15 minutes, with one intermission
Closes: December
29, 2013
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