How it’s New York: Staged at The Cell Theatre in NYC
How it’s Irish: Part of Origin’s 1st Irish 2023 Femme First series
“It’s In The Play” is a World premiere production in Origin’s 1st Irish Femme First.
Described as ‘A solo show in the tradition of Irish storytelling revolving around the promise to a dear departed sister,’ writer and performer Orlagh Cassidy shares the story of her turbulent family.
The turbulence is no better represented than in the teaming clutter of the set, packed with what may well be actual artifacts from the Cassidy clan. There is much to be diverted by.
And it soon becomes apparent that the distractions are not just visual: the tale explodes with incident and accident, triumph and tribulation. Quite the dizzying trip.
Cassidy is a compelling actor, but even her decades of experience can’t always guide the way through a topsy-turvy script, co-written by Cassidy and Kate Lardner and over-directed by Kira Simring.
A giant game of Tetris
There are (many) glimpses of the heart of the piece, especially where Cassidy recreates the musings of her Dublin-born Mother, Marie, ‘a force larger than her habits.’
Yet there are too many characters striving to be the lead and whilst they all pique interest, none of their arcs are fully realized and too many questions are left unanswered.
And what is with all the chairs? On its own, the chair-citecture might have made for an engaging conceit, but the continual re-arranging – like a giant game of Tetris – is paired with a multitude of prop-handling. The grappling was bewildering to watch and must have been a strain for Cassidy to enact, though an actor of this professionalism never let it show.
Although ‘crazy is sometimes good storytelling,’ ultimately, there is really just too much in this play, verbally and visually. But now the excavation of this dense story is underway, the milling and polishing of stage-time will surely make the gems of these lives shine.
