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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><b style><span style="font-family:Palatino">THE
SEAFARER, an Irish saga at Dobama</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino">Roy Berko</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino">Member, American Theatre Critics Association</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Palatino">--THE TIMES NEWSPAPERS--</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Palatino">LORAIN COUNTY
TIMES--WESTLAKER TIMES--LAKEWOOD NEWS TIMES--OLMSTED-FAIRVIEW TIMES</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Palatino">--<a href="http://COOLCLEVELAND.COM">COOLCLEVELAND.COM</a>—</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino">The Irish are noted for, among other things, being hearty
drinkers, tellers of tall tales, participants in physical conflict, and
believers in fantasy, redemption, fate, Catholicism, and escapes from reality.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino">THE SEAFARER by Conor McPherson, one of the newer Irish
playwrights, is now in production at Dobama Theatre.<span style> </span>McPherson has proven with his naturalistic style of
writing, that he can follow in the paths of Shaw, Singe, Joyce and Beckett in
creating a story that fits true Irish traditions. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino">In THE SEAFARER, McPherson writes a dark Christmas fable
which reflects despair and a descent into oceanic depths of drunkenness.<span style> </span>It concerns characters who spend their
lives in alcoholic hazes, dependent upon each other to get through life.<span style> </span>These are men who find it necessary to
use booze as an anesthetic to protect themselves from reality.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino">It’s Christmas evening in Baldoyle, a coastal settlement
north of Dublin.<span style> </span>The setting is
the run-down, unkempt home of Richard Harkin and his brother Sharky.<span style> </span>The duo has a long history of sibling
rivalry.<span style> </span>Sharkey has
recently returned home after being sacked from his chauffeuring job for being
involved with his employer’s wife.<span style>
</span>The tale reaches its apex when a drunken quartet of men, and a
mysterious stranger, play a game of poker with more than money at stake.<span style> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino">As we observe, many of the characters are rudderless and
blind.<span style> </span>In the case of Richard, his
blindness is real.<span style> </span>On Halloween he
fell in a dumpster causing the physical damage.<span style> </span>His younger brother, Sharky is blinded by living life
transitioning from one drunken rage to another.<span style> </span>Ivan, a constant presence in the house, feels his way
through life, hiding constantly from reality.<span style> </span>Ivan has lost his glasses and can’t see clearly.<span style> </span>This lack of clarity causes a major
plot turn.<span style> </span>Nicky, who is spending
time with Sharky’s ex, acts and dresses flamboyantly, is a constant bane for
Sharky, and seems blind to reality.<span style>
</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino">Who is the mysterious Mr. Lockhart, a man of refined
appearance, with a stiff exterior.<span style>
</span>He has a secret, that centers on an action which transpired 25 years ago
while Sharkey was in prison for killing a vagrant.<span style> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino">Dobama’s production, under the direction of Scott Miller, is
on one hand compelling, on the other, inconsistent.<span style> </span>Miller fails to aid some of the actors in texturing their performances.<span style> </span>Several yell throughout with little
inner motivation.<span style> </span>There is also
some inconsistency in pacing and consistent accents.<span style> </span>On the other hand, the quality of writing, the plot
development and several fine performances keep the long play interesting.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino">Joel Hammer makes the rage-filled Sharky, totally his.<span style> </span>The underlying and expressive rage are
well developed and textured.<span style> </span>This
is an excellent portrayal.<span style> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino">Larry Nehring is compelling as the pathetic Ivan.<span style> </span>He clearly portrays the husband, father
and drunk, who has difficulty with the realities of life. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino">Bernard Canepari’s Richard is properly frustrated, but the
actor fails to vary his performance.<span style>
</span>He yells and yells and yells.<span style>
</span>There is also the problem of his stumbling over the lines.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino">Tom Woodward makes for an acceptable Nicky, but doesn’t
create a crystal clear character.<span style>
</span>Who Nicky really is doesn’t come out.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino">Charles Kartali feigns as Mr. Lockhart.<span style> </span>He looks stern and unyielding, presents
his lines with fidelity, but misses the needed underlying devilish
quality.<span style> </span>There are times when he
sounds more east coast U.S than Irish.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino">David Tilk’s set design works well as does Marcus Dana’s
lighting.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><i style><span style="font-family:Palatino">Capsule judgement:<span style> </span>THE
SEAFARER is an Irish play which gives a vivid picture of the frustrations of
life on the Emerald Isles.<span style>
</span>Dobama’s production has some fine performances.<span style> </span>Though it is very well worth seeing,
some may find it overlong and lacking in clarity.</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino">THE SEAFARER </span><span style="font-family:Palatino">plays
at Dobama through December 18.<span style> </span>For
tickets call 216- 932-3396 or go to <a href="http://dobama.org">http://dobama.org</a><span style> </span></span></p>