The Irish take Manhattan — again
The Irish have taken over New York. Again. Gabriel Byrne, who has had more triumphs on Broadway, and indeed America, than any Irish actor you can mention, is starring opposite Jessica Lange in Long Day’s Journey Into Night at the American Airlines Theatre on West 42nd Street Broadway (‘Jessica Lange and Gabriel Byrne take Long Day’s Journey out for its harrowing ride,’ noted The Washington Post approvingly.) It wraps tonight.
Meanwhile, over on West 22nd Street at the Irish Repertory Theatre, Conor McPherson’s Shining City, starring Matthew Broderick, is bedazzling Broadway too.
And it is less because of Broderick than it is of our own Lisa Dwan, who powerfully plays Broderick’s estranged girlfriend. (And I haven’t even mentioned that my old pal Joe Dowling is shortly to go into rehearsals with a Brian Friel play called Afterplay in the other new space at the Rep.)
“Conor McPherson is one of Ireland’s great understated theatrical poets,” Lisa told me (I get around). “He leaves space for the emotional lava of what is not said to emerge in every character. It’s a privilege for me to get a chance to embody his work.”
The acclaimed actress from Coosan, Athlone, — who, she told me, is “currently living between London and New York with occasional trips to Los Angeles for work” — added she is performing Shining City at night and rehearsing and developing a new one woman Beckett play during the day called No’s Knife that opens in September at the Old Vic Theatre in London.
In the meantime, the day after Shining City wraps on July 3, Lisa is jetting to Florence “to do a documentary for the BBC on Dante.”
“And apart from some meetings,” Lisa continued, “I hope to get home to Ireland to spend some quality time with Mam and Dad.”
That’s all well and good, Lisa, but what about your love life? The Irish nation needs to be told. “The nation does not need to be told!” the gorgeous Beckett thesp hooted.