Review: THE NIGHT ALIVE at Round House Theatre - Irish Playwright Conor McPherson's Play Packs a Punch

I was so looking forward to THE NIGHT ALIVE and listening to Irish accents since I had just returned from a wonderful eight day journey in Ireland (which included an evening at the famous Abbey Theatre). I was not disappointed.

The accents were spot on. The direction was tight and clever. The acting was just simply superb. The play...well, it's Irish...so expect some humor, some dancing, some drama, some violence, some blood...who could ask for anything more???

THE NIGHT ALIVE takes place in an unkept Dublin home where the lead character Tommy (the absolute brilliant Edward Gero) obviously needs a maid. His one room flat is below the owner of the house Tommy's Uncle Maurice (the crotchety Michael Tolaydo) who puts up the mess down below.

Tommy is a gentleman and this becomes obvious right from the start when he walks into his home accompanied by a young pretty women, Aimee, (played by the wonderful Katie deBuys) who has been battered by her boyfriend name Kenneth (the powerful Joseph Carlson who will make his appearance later) and is rescued by Tommy. Tommy lets her use his bathroom (but only after he cleans it up because it is littered with trash).

The play is about common people who have common problems and how they cope with these problems. Tommy's best friend, his "Tonto", is Doc (the talented Gregory Linington) lives with his sister and her fiancé, and hopes to use Tommy's extra cot since he was kicked out of his home. Set and Costume Designer Meghan Raham does an admirable job.

Tommy certainly needs loving. Aimee needs loving. Doc needs loving. They all do and that's what the play is about. You can see it in Tommy's expressions talking to his ex-wife on the phone.

But then the playwright, out of the blue, has Tommy, Aimee, and Doc do a dance routine to Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On". It's hysterical.

My only disappointment, and this is really minor, is I expected just a little bit of Irish music but Eric Shimeloinis (Composer/Sound Designer) had other ideas and they work well. It's just...well you understand.

Colin K. Bills did the great lighting and Kasey Hendricks was the Props Master which was a yeoman's task.

Mary Coy did the Dialects and does a masterful job.

Get ready for a tough but thoroughly enjoyable night of theater. Remember, it's Conor McPherson.

THE NIGHT ALIVE, a regional premiere, runs until November 13. You won't forget it. For tickets, call 240-644-1100 or visit www.RoundHouseTheatre.org.

Next up at Round House is Sarah Ruhl's romantic comedy, STAGE KISS, directed by Aaron Posner which begins Dec. 2 featuring the wonderful Dawn Ursula.

THIS AND THAT

DVR Alert: Check out Lin-Manuel Miranda (HAMILTON) who will be a guest on THE TONIGHT SHOW this Friday night on NBC.

PBS Art Fall Festival continues on PBS. Catch the following:

CHITA REIVERA: A LOT OF LIVIN' TO DO (Nov. 6 at 9 p.m.)

"Live from Lincoln Center" : ACT ONE with Tony Shalhoub, Andrea Martin, and Santino Fontana (Nov. 13)

FIRST YOU DREAM: THE MUSIC OF KANDER AND EBB...a concert tribute recorded at Signature Theatre directed by Eric Schaeffer (Nov. 20).

On Saturday night, Nov. 21,the film WEST SIDE STORY on WETA at 9:30 p.m.

Saturday night, Nov. 28, JOSH GROBAN: STAGES: Josh Groban sings Broadway tunes at 10 p.m.

MACY'S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE

Happy to report the shows on NBC during Macy's Parade:

SCHOOL OF ROCK

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF

KING AND I

ON YOUR FEET

SOMETHING ROTTEN

THE WIZ LIVE! (on NBC Dec. 3 at 8 p.m.)

FINDING NEVERLAND (and what about HAMILTON???)

cgshubow@broadwayworld.com

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