Review: Living in CORKTOWN '57 Rips an Irish-American Family Apart

Emotions run high and battle lines are drawn when family and political loyalties collide in CORKTOWN '57, a powerful new family drama by John Fazakerley having its World Premiere as a guest production at the Odyssey Theater. Tony-nominated director Wilson Milam (The Lieutenant of Inishmore) helms a distinguished ensemble cast whose ability to delve deep into the rampant emotions of their characters makes you feel like a fly on the wall, spying on a family in its darkest moments.

Home to Irish immigrants since the early part of the 20th century, the Philadelphia community known as "Corktown" was a hotbed of pro-Irish activity that reached its climax in the late 1950s during a time when Irish Republican Army splinter groups had begun to advocate violence against civilian targets as a strategy to drive Britain out of Ireland.

"The play is a fiction, but it's inspired by memories of my family," says playwright Fazakerley, who was motivated by a shoebox of old photographs he discovered after his father died which included a 1948 photo of his grandfather holding him as a baby. That photo is now the poster for this production.

"My grandfather was an unrepentant Irish Republican who wouldn't give up the fight," the playwright continues. "In his last days, he came to live with us, and I became his caretaker. He would regale me with stories of the family coming to America. Though I knew he was highly political, I never realized what that meant until I began to question family elders, who would entertain me with stories of Grandpop."

In this highly personal world premiere, we meet the Keating family, led by its patriarch Mike (Nick Tate) who, when told he has six months to live, hatches a scheme to regain his status in the eyes of the Irish Republican movement. Irish-born actors Andrew Connolly and Kevin P. Kearns take on the roles of Mike's eldest son, John (regarded as a turncoat to the family because he joined the British military, most offensively as a member of the reviled Black and Tans) and his son-in-law, Ciaran, an IRA activist.

The story takes place in the remodeled basement of American born youngest son Frank (John Ruby) and his wife Janice (Dublin-born Natalie Britton), their young son, Johnny (12-year old Jonah Beres). Mike's daughters, Kaitlin (Rebecca Tilney) who is a devout sympathizer to the Irish cause, and Marie (Belen Greene) bring a rebellious daughter and a deeply devoted wife, respectively, into the mix of volatile family men.

Rounding out the cast is Josh Clark as Tim Flynn, a family cousin and the local gun-wielding IRA commander, in charge of keeping the peace and looking out for his neighbors. He has the unfortunate position of grabbing that post instead of patriarch Mike, leading to a devious scheme to right that wrong. Of course, nothing turns out the way it should with many twists and turns as schemes are revealed and debunked within moments depending upon who is doing the talking.

Scenic design by Joel Daavid authentically represents a shabby 1950s basement in a low rent district, complete with washboard for scrubbing the baby's dirty diapers, a daybed couch that has seen many a better day, mismatched chairs, old family photographs on the wall, and wall-top windows that open onto the street above. And of course, as is necessary in all Irish households, the ever-present and well stocked bar is used in every scene, fueling the passions between the characters.

Adding to the authentic 1950s feel is the wonderfully accurate costume design by Jackie Gudget, adding in the requisite pastel pedel-pushers and full skirts (which were only missing the usual poodles). John's well-tailored suits and overcoat certainly fit his rank as a general in the British Army, and the regal bearing always on display by Andrew Connolly certainly set him apart from the everyday dress and manner displayed by the other men.

Thanks to Wilson Milam's fast paced direction and the highly gifted cast, CORKTOWN '57 truly becomes not only a serious look at a family in distress for both religious and political reasons but also a great history lesson on how intolerance can lead you down the wrong path to salvation. And how many examples of that can you find in today's world? Too many to count, I'm afraid.

CORKTOWN '57 written by John Fazakerley, directed by Wilson Milam, and produced by Racquel Lehrman, Theatre Planners, continues through May 3 on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. at the Odyssey Theatre, located at 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., West Los Angeles, 90025. Tickets are $25 on Fridays and Sundays and $30 on Saturdays. For reservations and information, call (323) 960-5770 or go to www.plays411.com/corktown.

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