In Matthew J. Keenan’s “An Irish Carol,” it’s Christmas Eve in Dublin. Pub owner David (Kevin Adams), a miserly old man, fights with his customers and mistreats the bartender, leaving a trail of unhappiness in his wake. As the cold wind howls outside and the falling snow promises a white Christmas, David is confronted by people from his past, who remind him of who he used to be before anger and bitterness swallowed him whole.
While David is forced to confront painful moments from his past, the story also includes moments of comic relief provided by the pub regulars who have chosen to spend Christmas Eve at their favorite watering hole. Neither Frank (Timothy H. Lynch) or Jim (Mike Kozemchak) allow David’s miserliness to dim their enthusiasm for day drinking. Joe Baker plays a convincing Simon whose ambition and insensitivity might cost him his fiancé, Anna (Brenna Horner), who seemed so Irish that one wondered if she didn’t just walk in off of O’Connell Street. Other notable performances include the Bartek, a sensitive and sympathetic figure played by Drew Sharpe; David’s brother, Michael (Theo Hadjimichael), who desperately seeks family reconciliation; and Richard (Matt J. Bannister), trying to honor his dead wife’s last wishes on the anniversary of her passing.
Directed by Mark A. Rhea, the action takes place in a traditional Irish pub. Playwright and Scenic Designer Matthew J. Keenan’s attention to detail lends the set an authentic pub feel—including a large wooden bar, a simple table and chairs, and walls crammed with memorabilia. The set’s ingenious design allows for the bar’s ultimate transformation into a place of joy, a direct reflection of David’s own personal transformation.
“An Irish Carol” is a long-standing Keegan Theatre tradition. If you enjoy fine acting, good humor, and a strong drink, you might want to consider making this play your holiday tradition too.
