Displaying items by tag: Matthew Isler

A rare opportunity to see Brian Friel’s ‘Molly Sweeney’ is being presented at the historic Chopin Theatre building at its intimate Studio through May 8. The celebrated Irish playwright won a 1996 Tony Award for this very contemporary tale of a 40-year-old woman blind from infancy who has her vision restored, examining the aftermath.

It is based on a case study written up in 1995 by Oliver Sacks, telling of the real patient on which ‘Molly Sweeney’ is based. The notoriety of playwright Friel, who died in 2015, has been eclipsed by more recent Irish script writers like Conor McPherson (‘The Weir’ and with Bob Dylan, ‘Girl from the North Country’) or Martin McDonough (‘Beauty Queen of Leenane’ and ‘Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri’).

The Irish Theatre of Chicago has given the two-act play a skillful production under director Siiri Scott. Molly (Carolyn Kruse) is a vibrant figure, an athletic and successful woman living a rich life, who has married Frank Sweeney (Matthew Isler) who is a bit too much of a dreamer who attaches himself to efforts like saving whales in which he hopes to gain fame and distinction. But things end badly, usually, as in the case of introducing Iranian goats to Ireland. (The animals never quite adjusted to the time zone change and must be milked at ungodly hours).

Mr. Rice (Robert Kauzurlaric), an ambitious doctor also hoping to reclaim his clouded reputation with a medical miracle for Molly, who begins to suspect she is a foil in other peoples’ goals. The playwright’s mastery becomes apparent as the action is simply a series of monologues—each recollecting aspects of their lives and the story at hand. Yet my interest never flagged, and the recounting of dances and parties, by which other characters are injected into the action. The simple stage becomes all the world, as the Bard says. And we are left wanting more at intermission.

Like the real patient, Molly regains her sight, but with unintended consequences and a steep personal cost. The Irish Theatre of Chicago brings careful attention to dialect, and the Irish English which is its own language (like Puerto Rican Spanish, perhaps) is delivered convincingly to Chicago ears. Kruse is most vibrant and the perfect picture of Molly as it unfolds in the script. And likewise Kauzurlic as Mr. Rice and Isler in the role of Frank Sweeney.

One quibble would be the stage which spreads wide across the front row, so the spotlighted characters are far from each other, giving those in center rows a better view than the left or right seating. But it's a small thing in this lovely space. ‘Molly Sweeney’ is a lovely return to live production at the Chopin Theatre Studio, and demonstrates Irish Theatre of Chicago hasn’t been diminished a bit by the pandemic. Performances run Thursday through Sunday (except Easter) through May 8. www.irishtheatre.org

In Irish Theatre of Chicago’s newest production “The White Road”, performed at The Den Theatre in Wicker Park, we get exactly what we are hoping for – an intense adventure that pits man against nature at its most vicious form. Based on the true heroics of Irish-born polar explorer Ernest Shackleton, “The White Road” tells the story of yet another incredible undertaking where all hope lies solely in one’s will to survive.

Setting sail from South Georgia on December 5^th, 1914, Shackleton’s Trans-Antarctica expedition triumphantly leaves shore aboard The Endurance with a crew of twenty-eight with the intent on crossing the Antarctica continent from one coast to the other by way of the South Pole. Hopes are high and excitement is in the air as the crew embarks on a journey never before accomplished.  

Said Shackleton beforehand, "After the conquest of the South Pole by [Roald] Amundsen who, by a narrow margin of days only, was in advance of the British Expedition under [Robert Falcon] Scott, there remained but one great main object of Antarctic journeying - the crossing of the South Polar continent from sea to sea". 

As history tells, it was a plight that was never meant to be.

Upon approaching Antarctica they are met with pack ice that surrounds their sea vessel threatening to sink it. Completely alone and hundreds of miles away from any form of civilization, this is where one of the greatest tales of survival begins.  

In the two-hour-plus play, we meet a variety of characters that make up this memorable crew – and we like them all. From a nature photographer who keeps the camera rolling at all costs to life and limb, to an enthusiastic stowaway boy starved for adventure, to a whaler/banjo-plucker who lifts the men's spirits with song, we don’t just see a nameless crew, instead we really get to know a unique and diverse lot of individuals. Piven ensemble member Paul Dunckel’s performance of the fearless expedition leader makes Shackleton highly likeable, as the wise and self-sacrificing explorer. Dunckel leads this talented cast with the constitution and perseverance one would associate with an expedition leader, whereas he can convincingly make the tough decisions whilst his loyal troops still rally behind him.

Along with Dunckel, Irish Theatre Company ensemble members Kevin Theis and Matthew Isler are accompanied by Nicholas Bailey, Steve Herson, Neal Starbird, Michael McKeogh, Joseph Stearns, Stephen Walker and Gage Wallace, comprising this fine cast that generates a whirlwind of strong performances.   

Making this play even more entertaining is the way the set is used to put us aboard The Endurance smack dab in the middle of the frozen, glacier-filled waters. Sound effects are strategically used in tandem with projections to successfully create storm effects while creative choreography takes us on a deadly hike through icy mountains.

This is one of those true incredible adventure stories that are long forgotten by most that, thanks to storytellers like The Irish Theatre of Chicago, we now get to experience and share in the surprisingly unbelievable depth of human spirit brought on by fantastic circumstances.

I should note that though this is a wonderful story taken from the pages of early 20th century history, if you are thinking of bring a young adult, be aware that there is a scene containing as a crew member streaks across the deck of the ship. 

Fittingly directed by ensemble member Robert Kauzlaric and written by Karen Tarjan, the world premiere run of “The White Road” is being performed at The Den Theatre through June 13^th. For tickets and/or more information visit www.irishtheatreofchicago.org.