LOTS of things twin between the life Ray Yeates, director of axis:Ballymun theatre company, and that of the fictional character of Eoin in ‘The Parting Glass’, Dermot Bolger’s play. The Ballymun based theatre company brings ‘The Parting Glass’ to Belltable on Wednesday June 8 and Thursday 9 as part of its national tour, this one-man show having wowed Dublin audiences and a New York festival.
Back on stage after years of directing and teaching, Ray Yeates took to the role of Eoin created by his old mucker, Bolger.
“I had lived in the New York through the 1990s, acting and teaching, and came back to Dublin in 1999,” Yeates tells Arts page. “Appointed to axis:Ballymun as director, with Dermot I staged his Ballymun trilogy and another play of his, ‘Walking the Road’, based in Flanders’ Ypres on the life of the Irish war poet, Francis Ledwidge. I also directed ‘In High German’, Dermot’s prequel to The Parting Glass, although ‘The Parting Glass’ stands entirely on its own”.
Much to do so with his native Dublin and the familiar playwright, but other links were right for this theatre director’s step back onto stage. “That’s a big move for any director, not least one who is director of the producing theatre company”.
Mark O’Brien, who is axis’ arts development manager, took charge of ‘The Parting Glass’ and with sell out runs in Everyman Theatre, in Dublin, in Castlebar, Yeates can say truthfully: “It is unusual for the audience not to stand at the end”.
His one-man turn embraces 14 characters as Eoin arrives at Dublin airport following his trip to South of France for the World Cup 2010 match, in which Thierry Henry scuppered Ireland’s chances outrageously.
“At this stage in his return to Ireland with his German wife and child after years in Germany, Eoin has lost his job and lost his money. He’s trying to figure it all out and although it sounds morbid, the play is incredibly funny and very moving. He looks back to a moment in France and remembers what he felt then, what it feels like to be happy. Eoin is at half time in his life, realising that at 50, there is extra time ahead”.
A connection through past students of Ray Yeates at NY’s American Academy of Dramatic Arts secured ‘A Parting Glass’ for an experimental festival there, ‘Off Broadway Undergroundzero’, where it was received as the festival’s “most affecting work”.
He speaks of huge involvement on the part of the audience during the show, although it is silent, as Eoin’s travails with the banks, with the city’s changed scene, with disappointment are negotiated.
“Yet it’s not about Dublin, or being Irish or male. It is a universal story – sometimes the more particular a story is, the more universal it is. Even in New York, they knew ‘The Parting Glass’ was the real thing”.
Belltable Arts Centre, Wednesday June 8, Thursday 9, 8pm.
