There's Still Time To Catch 'The Seafarer' At The Booth Theatre

See The Acclaimed National Theatre Production Before It's Too Late!

By John Mooney

Conor McPherson, author of the Olivier Award-winning The Weir and, more recently, the Tony-nominated Shining City, has brought his chilling new play about the sea, Ireland, and the power of myth to the Broadway stage. After being delayed by the stagehands strike, the show opened on Thursday, December 6 at the Booth Theatre.

The action takes place on Christmas Eve at a house in Baldoyle, a coastal suburb north of Dublin, which overlooks the north side of the Howth peninsula. James "Sharky" Harkin (David Morse) has given up his job as a chauffer in Co. Clare and returned to Dublin to look after his irascible, aging brother Richard (the irresistible Jim Norton) who has recently gone blind. Also present is Richard's drinking buddy Ivan (two-time Olivier Award winner Conleth Hill), who has slept over and doesn't see very well himself, thanks to a few too many whiskeys. Much of the comedy centers on trying to remember what went on the night before, which includes the search for Ivan's misplaced glasses.

Despite Sharky's protests, Richard hosts a card game later that same evening and includes the flashy Nicky (Sean Mahon), who now lives with Sharky's wife and kids, and the mysterious Mr. Lockhart (Ciarán Hinds). With the addition of some illegal poteen from Northern Ireland, the stakes get higher.

Fueled by alcohol, the card players explore guilt over past actions that continue to haunt them years later. The nattily dressed Mr. Lockhart cowers at the sound of Christmas carols and delights in making his colleagues squirm. When he reminds Sharky that they have met before, all Hell breaks loose.

Ultimately, the play is about redemption. Each character is flawed, and for a variety of reasons, unhappy. Instead of spending Christmas Eve with their wives and children or other extended family, the men have chosen to engage in a high stakes poker game.

"Sharky has internalized a lot of tension he had growing up. The conflict within his family has left a lot of unfinished business in his emotions," said playwright/director Conor McPherson. "He doesn't want to be back home, but he is drawn back to his past at a time of year he just wants to get through."

"Christmas has the symbolism of light in the middle of the darkness, but it's also a very difficult time for people," McPherson added. "They are reminded when they go home why they left in the first place!"

One of Ireland's great modern writers, McPherson actually manages to evoke some sympathy for the devil, who like his fellow card players, discovers that his misery stems ultimately from loneliness. His comic touches provide great moments, particularly when Mr. Lockhart reacts to hearing badly sung Christmas carols. Coming across from London, Jim Norton (best known as Bishop Brennan on TV's "Father Tim") reprises his role as Richard Harkin, for which he received the prestigious 2007 Olivier Award. As the cantankerous, ever drunken older brother, he delivers one liners with expert timing. Conleth Hill is quite funny in the role as drinking buddy Ivan, which he originated at The National Theatre.

Ciarán Hinds is devilish as Mr. Lockhart. (The actor is best known to audiences as "Gaius Julius Caesar" in HBO's epic drama "Rome.") Drama Desk Award winner David Morse ("How I Learned to Drive") returns to the New York stage after receiving an Emmy nomination for his guest starring role in "House, M.D." on Fox Television. Morse effectively conveys the sadness that people sometimes feel during the holidays. Sean Mahon makes his Broadway debut as Nicky, the good looking ne'er-do-well.