DRUID’S relationship of three decades with Tom Murphy is the bedrock for acclaimed productions coming to Lime Tree Theatre, June 18 to 22.
DruidMurphy, in fact, is the production company behind ‘Conversations on a Homecoming’ (1985) and ‘ A Whistle in the Dark’ (1987), and there are co-producers to this juggernaut that has played to 30,000+ already.
Interest is such that the tour is scheduled for 11 weeks.
The New York Times, The Financial Times, the Daily Telegraph and The Irish Times have raved about the shows, seamed as they are with issues of migration, alienation, family thuggery and friendship. There is also consolation of romance – idealised or real, national or notional. Pour some porter on the pile while you’re at it.
Opening night with ‘Conversations on a Homecoming’ this Tuesday 18 at Lime Tree met expectation with its tight set of performances of people being as mean as dirt can be, chasing out the light of change, hope, tenderness. It’s also a hellish good laugh.
The original Druid, directed then as now by Garry Hynes, forged its Galway name in a back lane shoebox with Murphy’s plays in the 1980s.
Today, Hynes and actors Marie Mullen and Maelíosa Stafford, who graced the original productions, lead the cast of 11. More names on board include Gavin Drea (‘Love/ Hate’), Garrett Lombard (‘Pure Mule’, ‘Alexander’) Rory Nolan and Marty Rea.
Sell out houses for Lime Tree Theatre over these five nights of mid-Summer are a real prospect so get in gear; 2pm and 8pm shows on Saturday June 22 only; 8pm tonight Friday 21. Www.limetreetheatre.ie
