Come on in and sit around the table with Dan Brick, Eric Lucas and Joe Baker.. Let them tell you an Irish tale full of laughs and fine lessons learned; storytelling is something these lads are very, very good at. These three actors take this play by Conor McPherson and turn it inside out, upside down and every which way but loose. Director Robert McNamara’s superb direction shines throughout as in past Scena productions.
Three Irishmen, Joe, Frank (Joe’s Brother) and Ray (University Professor) tell a coming of age story… or is it a story of moral dilemmas? or personal demons? Joe starts the tale off and around the table the story is passed, first to Ray, then Frank. Before you know it Ray gets violently ill while asking a distinguished speaker at an academic function a question, Frank has performed an armed robbery to protect his father from would be loan shark Simple Simon and Joe has witnessed a brutal rape in a local cemetery. And what’s more all three stories are intertwined by play’s end. Each of the play’s actors deliver complex, brilliant performances! Joe Baker’s stage presence has grown by leaps and bounds since his role in The Beauty Queen Of Leenane, Eric Lucas last seen in Keegan’s Streetcar Named Desire is at his witty, sarcastic best and Dan Brick continues his masterful ability to bring depth and feeling to his roles as witnessed by his recent work with Solas Nua in Disco Pigs, Misterman and Howie The Rookie. The staging is simple with just a table, chairs, a few cold beers and the skyline of an Irish town across the back wall of the Warehouse black box. The lighting effects included some backlighting of the skyline during an evening scene, a very simple but pleasing addition. If storytelling is a lost art this show is testament that it has been rediscovered with Scena’s mounting of This Lime Tree Bower. Funny and irreverent this show is a highly entertaining evening of theatre.
This Lime Tree Bower, by Conor McPherson. Directed by Robert McNamara Warehouse Theatre, 1021 Seventh St. NW. Call 703-684-7990 or visit http://www.scenatheatre.org for tickets.
I’m a little late with my comment. Ahem. I have a good excuse,though. This is the first time I saw Ronnie’s fine review. I have to say that this show, This Lime Tree Bower, has been my favorite show of the year so far. It was original, sparkling, surprising and the acting of the older two of the three actors was brilliant. Not that the youngest was bad. He was delightful, but I have to point out how extraordinarly good the other two were. I kick myself in the butt for not having gone back to see the show again.