By Marcella Lee
Freelance reviewer
The Gazette
The Lonesome West, now playing at Riverside Theatre, is the third in a trilogy of plays written by Martin McDonagh, the angry young man of Irish playwrights show has achieved phenomenal success in recent years. Dubbed by one critic as "in-yer-face theatre," it is a dark comedy at times violent and shocking, uncompromising in its exploration of human relationships.
The lonesome west of the title refers to the bleak, isolated counties of northwest Ireland. Here two brothers bicker constantly in the aftermath of the supposedly accidental shooting of their father. arguments over who should get the potato chips escalates to more serious charges of wrong-doing, resulting in all-out physical attacks on one another. Violence alternates with farce.
The brothers, played brilliantly by Tim Budd and John Watkins, have taken on the brogue and mannerisms of the Irish working class like second skins. As siblings diametrically opposed in personality, they are equally strong in their individual portrayals.
Fine support is given by the other two members of the cast, Kehry Anson Lane as Father Welsh, the feckless priest who tries in vain to bring peace between the brothers; and Leslie E. Koppenhaver as Girleeen, a young woman from the village who shows an interest in the priest and attempts to tease some life into him. If ever a girl looks like a typical Irish colleen, it has to be Koppenhaver, with her red hair and high color.
Jody Hovland directs The Lonesome West with skill and sensitivity. There are some scenes in this unique play that are hilarious-such as the second act when the brothers start apologizing to one another for the dirty little tricks they have played on each other in the past. In other scenes you fear for what on character is about to do to the other. This is the stamp of McDonagh's work. He is a great story-teller and a creator of fascinating characters. These two elements alone guarantee an absorbing evening in the theatre
The Lonesome West will continue at Riverside Theatre through Nov. 19.
Freelance reviewer
The Gazette
The Lonesome West, now playing at Riverside Theatre, is the third in a trilogy of plays written by Martin McDonagh, the angry young man of Irish playwrights show has achieved phenomenal success in recent years. Dubbed by one critic as "in-yer-face theatre," it is a dark comedy at times violent and shocking, uncompromising in its exploration of human relationships.
The lonesome west of the title refers to the bleak, isolated counties of northwest Ireland. Here two brothers bicker constantly in the aftermath of the supposedly accidental shooting of their father. arguments over who should get the potato chips escalates to more serious charges of wrong-doing, resulting in all-out physical attacks on one another. Violence alternates with farce.
The brothers, played brilliantly by Tim Budd and John Watkins, have taken on the brogue and mannerisms of the Irish working class like second skins. As siblings diametrically opposed in personality, they are equally strong in their individual portrayals.
Fine support is given by the other two members of the cast, Kehry Anson Lane as Father Welsh, the feckless priest who tries in vain to bring peace between the brothers; and Leslie E. Koppenhaver as Girleeen, a young woman from the village who shows an interest in the priest and attempts to tease some life into him. If ever a girl looks like a typical Irish colleen, it has to be Koppenhaver, with her red hair and high color.
Jody Hovland directs The Lonesome West with skill and sensitivity. There are some scenes in this unique play that are hilarious-such as the second act when the brothers start apologizing to one another for the dirty little tricks they have played on each other in the past. In other scenes you fear for what on character is about to do to the other. This is the stamp of McDonagh's work. He is a great story-teller and a creator of fascinating characters. These two elements alone guarantee an absorbing evening in the theatre
The Lonesome West will continue at Riverside Theatre through Nov. 19.
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