SHIBBOLETH - A World Premiere at Dublin's Abbey Theatre

One of the pleasures of writing for Broadwayworld.com is the opportunity see plays ''around the world".

I just returned from a fabulous trip to Ireland and on our last night in Dublin attended the Abbey Theatre's World Premiere play SHIBBOLETH at the intimate Peacock Theatre.

Shibboleth is a Hebrew word which can be defined as an outmoded custom, principle or belief distinguishing one group from another.

Playwright Stacey Gregg in her "Afterword" of the script comments she was commissioned in 2008 by the Abbey Theatre and the Goethe-Institut as part of a European-wide response to the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.

The play premiered on October 7, 2015 as part of the Dublin Theatre Festival and will run to Oct. 31.

My wife Lisa and I were caught off-guard when the lights went done and we heard over the sound system President Barack Obama's speech in Belfast on June 17, 2013 in which he praised the Irish for the peace process and his hope that the "Peace Walls" in Belfast could be torn down.

SHIBBOLETH is a fascinating play that I believe will have legs around the world. Gregg is a talented playwright and the play while tackling serious subjects is full of comedy and music.

The brilliant set design reminded me of Legos. Just imagine large building blocks, some of color, on a construction site being built by Belfast construction workers in orange helmets. These walls are still being built. Alan (Andy Kellegher) is questioned by his young son Darren (nine year old Charlie Farrell) that since there is no war, why do you need a wall?

Alan responds, "...some people like the idea of them, They paint them dead nice, with murals about all the peace we're havin. They bring the tourists in." Alan's wife Ruby ( Kerri Quinn) has hopes to send their son to an "integrated" school where Catholics and Protestants attend together. Only 7% of children are currently in integrated schools.

The issue of immigration is inserted when a Polish worker shows up at the work site. Yuri (the talented Piotr Bauman) has a daughter Agnieszka (Sophie Harkness) who suffers an injury at the hand of one of the workers. Yuri is a dancer and is nick-named "Billy Elliot". (When I met him after the show he confided in me he truly is a dancer.) One of the highlights of the play is the response of the workers to the injury to Agnieszka.

There is also a neon sign which flashes the names of "walls" that are now existing around the world.

Paul Keogan did both the set design and lighting design.

The "wall" even has a voice and it is a wonderful one, Cara Robinson. There's a great rendition of Edwyn Collin's "Never Met a Girl Like You Before". James Fortune did the wonderful electric music.

Director Hamish Pine does a masterful job with a brilliant cast. Rhys Dunlop is "Corey", Vincent Higgins as "Stuarty", Louise Mathews as "Councillor", Jake O'Loughlin as "Darren". Sophie Harkness, Louise Matthews, and Keri Quinn also deserve mention.

The big 12 foot wall is supposed to separate "Themens" and "Usens". There is no mention of Catholics or Protestants.

If you are in Ireland, you have until Oct. 31 to check it out at the Abbey.

Visit the Abbey website for a nice video of the Author and the Director.

THIS AND THAT

Irish plays coming to town include Conor McPherson's THE NIGHT ALIVE at Bethesda's Roundhouse Theatre starting tonight until Nov. 13, and coming to the Everyman in Baltimore, John Patrick Shanley's OUTSIDE MULLINGAR running December 9 to January 10.

And coming in the spring, the Kennedy Center will present "Ireland 100: Celebrating a Century of Irish Arts & Culture". It coincides with the 100th anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising which led to Ireland's independence. Opening the event will be the Abbey Theatre's THE PLOUGH AND THE STARS running from May 18 and 19. The celebration runs until June 5. Visit www.kennedy-center.org/festivals/ireland.

Just noticed the passing of Irish actress Maureen O'Hara. It was only last week I visited the "Quiet Man" bridge from the film of the same name which also starred John Wayne.

cgshubow@broadwayworld.com

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