Review: Trinity Rep's Dublin Carol

When writer D. Salem  Smith asked Amy Morton why she was drawn to Conor McPherson's  Dublin Carol and why she wanted to direct it, her reply was "What interests me about it - this will probably say more about me than anything else but - I hate Christmas.  This is a play that doesn't pretend to like Christmas even a little bit."  

Dublin Carol, is about Christmas, in that, it takes place on the days before Christmas.  Period.  Almost.

The realism of Trinity's set; a worn office in a funeral home, sets the tone for the evening.   The office set takes up nearly the entire stage of the Dowling theater.  Everything is to scale. The furniture is sturdy.  Mismatched, but sturdy. Beside an occasional overcoat and bottle of whiskey, every prop and piece of scenery that will be in the play is on the stage as the play opens. There a many props that are never used as props, just as scenery.  

William Petersen plays John Plunkett, a barely functioning alcoholic. Plunkett is, unexpectedly, running a funeral home, where he has been an employee for at least a decade.  

Members of the audience, who may primarily know Petersen from his role as Gil Grissom in CSI, will see none of the quiet, thoughtful, hero Grissom in this character.  Without any ego, Petersen plays Plunkett as a red-faced, sweaty, alcoholic. A man who has been "beaten by life".  

Petersen emotes the 'ache' of loneliness; the loneliness of someone who is alone because of his own actions, and is overeager to have human interaction. In the first scene, Petersen is joined, on stage, by Danny Mefford as Mark.  If Plunkett didn't need someone to speak to and react to, the first scene could almost be done, completely, as a monologue. Plunkett extols his life view on his young visitor.  It is the skewed view of a lonely, terrified, alcoholic.  Mentoring, in the worst possible way.

In scene two, we meet Mary, a beautiful, if hardened, young women played by Rachel Warren.  Mary, we learn, is the estranged daughter of Mr. Plunkett and has come to tell him that his wife is dying of neck cancer and would like to see him.  Mary introduces the audience to the ideas of the characters of Helen, her mother and Paul, her brother.  The characters of Helen and Paul are only referenced, not seen.  Alluded to, but not heard from.  But the play is as much about them as it is about the characters that are seen on stage.  Ms. Warren plays the ever-present anger of the character, tempered by incredulity.

There are some funny moments, nervous laughter funny, mostly.  The character of John Plunkett is monumental and multi-layered.  The character requires that an actor move the character forward, beyond a stereotype of the "Irish Drunk". This production requires of the two actors that share the stage with William Petersen to be at the top of their game. Both of these tasks are performed by the adept cast.

In describing the tone of Dublin Carol, Trinity's Artistic Director, Curt Columbus compared it to a Samuel Beckett play, not unlike Waiting for Godot.    In its gravity, and its characters inability to move, I agree: although I find Godot to be more hopeful, which is something.  Dublin Carol is presented with no intermission, which intensifies the experience.

Dublin Carol plays at Trinity Rep's Dowling Theater through January 7, 2007.  The run of the play is, essentially, sold out. Single tickets for some performances may be available.  Call Trinity Rep's Box Office for more information, 401-351-4242

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