EUGENE O’NEILL’S WORKS BROUGHT BACK TO LIFE FOR FESTIVAL
HUNDREDS of people enjoyed the works of Eugene O’Neill, including the screening of the 1913 film The Count of Monte Cristo starring his father James, in New Ross over a wonderfully dramatically four days in New Ross.
Speaking before a special screening of The Count of Monte Cristo, a film shot in 1913 Alice O’Neill McLoughlin, one of the closest relatives of James O’Neill, spoke about how he left New Ross 167 years ago. ‘ Tonight he is back home,’ she said to a loud round of applause.
Alice gave a detailed outline of the history of the O’Neill family.
Alice said the festival was only the beginning of many connections to come between New Ross and America.
The silent film was brilliantly scored live by WIT lecturer and performer Phil Collins.
On Thursday night Hughie, the tale of two lonely strangers grappling to make sense of their lives was performed in front of crowd. There was also a playful presentation of some of O’Neill’s greatest stage directions.
One of O’Neill’s most remarkable plays, Mourning Becomes Electra, was performed on Saturday over several hours, The story of betrayal, lust, murder and retribution set against the backdrop of the end of the American Civil War, it was directed by Ben Barnes, from Saltmills, and was staged in two parts, featuring music composed and performed by Eleanor McEvoy and Irish soprano, from Palace West Clodagh Kinsella.
There were two well attended lunchtime talks at New Ross Library on Eugene O’Neill and the Graves Shipping company.
A crowd attended My real Life, an autobiographical play starring Don Wycherley which was written by Eoin Colfer from the Hook Peninsula, concluding the festival on Sunday night.
Over the weekend hundreds of people attended the performances.
Festival director Sean Reidy said he was delighted with the good attendances at the performances, adding that the reactions by audience members were ‘more than positive’.