Bridge Drama take to the stage with ‘Memoirs’ play
BRIDGE DRAMA will begin their All Ireland Drama Circuit campaign at the Jerome Hynes Theatre this weekend when they stage their first performances of ‘Brighton Beach Memoirs’ by Neil Simon.
Two time All Ireland winning director Pat Whelan is back at the helm and revisiting the work of the playwright that, three years ago, won them a coveted Best Play Award for ‘Lost In Yonkers’.
Three of the cast from that production return this year: Sean Byrne plays Eugene; Cillian Tobin plays the role of Stanley, while his father and group stalwart Paul Tobin takes on the role of Jack.
Mairead Cummings plays Blanche with Louise Wickham Dillon taking the role of Kate, Ailbhe Tierney playing Laurie, and Katie Connick in the role of Nora.
Set in Brooklyn, New York in 1937, the play focuses on Eugene Jerome and his family as they fight the hard times and sometimes each other, with laughter, tears and love. Eugene guides the audience through his ‘memoirs’, with a series of trenchant observations and insights that show his family meeting life’s challenges with pride, spirit and a marvellous sense of humour.
But as World War II looms ever closer, Eugene sees his own innocence slipping away as the first important era of his life ends, and a new one begins.
In true Simon fashion, ‘Brighton Beach Memoirs’ is a heart-warming family comedy drama delivering laughs but following them up with beautifully touching moments.
The group is also celebrating 20 years since their first performance in 1999. Their first circuit production, in 2002, was also a Simon play, ‘Rumours’.
The play opens this Thursday, running until Saturday, and then again on February 21, 22, 23 and 26. Tickets are available from nationaloperahouse.ie or 053 91 22144.