It is 1922 during the Troubles in Ulster, the six counties of Northern Ireland. The Catholics are in conflict with the Protestant unionists who want to remain part of the United Kingdom.
But in Belfast, the country’s capital, the Gallagher family is getting ready to eat dinner. The whole play takes place in their dining room.
Owen Gallagher (David ‘Oz’ Oswald) is content with the cozy comfort of his family life, ignoring the bickering of his wife Eliza (Trish Cipoletti) and the widowed Orlagh (Pamela McLean Wallace) about how to cook the potatoes. Owen’s cheerful son Aiden (Robert Tollinger) and Owen’s addled grandmother (Sharon Ferry), are also part of the household.
This play is the fourth of a series of plays about Irish history written by director Ara Barlieb. The first three were a trilogy, and this one is the beginning of a second projected trilogy.
For this meal, Owen’s brother Peter (Mike Daniels) has invited a guest (Danny Black). Despite Owen’s efforts to keep things neutral, there is a lot of talk about how the Catholics have been mistreated over the years, which also acts as a history lesson. Ireland’s past is not generally well known in the U.S., but the play shows that many Irish never forget.
The second act has an unfortunate parallel with current events, as the family clashes with the Protestant Specials (Bruce F. Brown, Daniel VanArsdale, and Jaeden Reppert), who assume their own authority and ignore the rights of others. They are more interested in confronting Owen’s employee (Dan Ferry) than helping the family’s Protestant friend (Fiona Galligan Sweeney) who shows up after being mugged. Sweeney, who had a relative involved in the Troubles, was a consultant on “Terrible Beauty.”
The best thing about this play is the feeling of realism. The Irish brogues sound authentic enough, so at times you have to listen closely to understand the accented dialogue. And the Crowded Kitchen Players, who have been working together for years, seem like a real family.
“Terrible Beauty,” which is a bit less than two hours, uses the family’s talk about history to foreshadow the dramatic action of Act Two.
The title is taken from a poem by William Butler Yeats. Hopefully the courage and resistance shown here can be duplicated in our country during these current times, which are also troubled.
The Downstairs Theatre at
The Charles A. Brown Ice House
Sand Island, 56 River St. Bethlehem PA
March 14 730PM
March 15 at 200PM.
Tickets $15
General seating. Free Parking
For additional information, please email
call 610-704-6974 or visit www.ckplayers.com
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