Melbourne.Arts.Fashion: The Seafarer
See article in its original context here by Melynda von Wayward for Melbourne.Arts.Fashion.
The Seafarer by Conor McPherson
The Seafarer is set in Baldoyle a suburb on the coast north of Dublin on Christmas Eve James ‘Sharky’ Harkin is battling alcoholism and has returned to live with his hard drinking older blind brother Richard.
As the night rolls on and the storm clouds gather the brothers are joined by an assortment of friends – one of whom brings an unfamiliar guest insisting on a game of poker.
With two demons at play on this night – one of which is ‘the drink’ – the stakes in this card game could not come any higher.
Pearn is constantly in thrall of the terrain Conor McPherson explores, “life’s mysteries (big and small), guilt, redemption and aloneness set in his trademark pitch black humour – I suppose we’re attracted to a well told Faustian tale.”
“Supernatural stories do hold a powerful attraction for us. Why? Do we identify in some way with these characters and, how in certain instances, we roll the dice in our own lives and then have to deal with the consequences good or bad? It is just fabulous storytelling,” Pearn explains.
The Seafarer was written in 2006 by acclaimed Irish playwright Conor McPherson and was nominated for multiple Tony Awards as well as the Laurence Olivier and Evening Standard Awards for Best Play. McPherson has been described as ‘the finest playwright of his generation’ – his work includes The Weir which received the George Devine, Laurence Olivier, Evening Standard and Critics Circle Awards; Shining City that was nominated for a Tony Award; Dublin Carol; and his most recent work The Night Alive.
The Seafarer by Conor McPherson
Season 30 July – 10 August 2014
Times 8pm Tue – Sat, 3pm Sun
Duration 140 minutes including interval
Venue fortyfivedownstairs, 45 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
Tickets $38 Full / $33 Concession and Groups 6+
Bookings 03 9662 9966 or fortyfivedownstairs.com
IMAGE: The Seafarer. Photographer: Fred Kroh.