Review Roundup: THE LOVED ONES at Irish Repertory Theatre

Irish Repertory Theatre's New York premiere of The Loved Ones officially opened June 23 following previews that began June 13. Written by Erica Murray and directed by Nicola Murphy Dubey, the production is currently running through August 2 on Irish Rep's Francis J. Greenburger Mainstage.

Set in a remote farmhouse in County Clare, Ireland, The Loved Ones follows Nell as she prepares to scatter her late son's ashes with his widow. Their plans are disrupted by the arrival of an American tourist and an unexpected young visitor, setting the stage for a weekend of revelations, unresolved grief, and dark comedy.

The cast features Alana Raquel Bowers, Donna Lynne Champlin, Clare O'Malley, and Maryann Plunkett.

The Loved Ones features set design by Tatiana Kahvegian, costume design by Orla Long, lighting design by Kat C. Zhou, sound design by Caroline Eng, dialect coaching by Barbara Rubin, and fight choreography by Rick Sordelet. Bailey Bass serves as associate director, with Mary Garrigan as production stage manager and Mikki Monfalcone as assistant stage manager. Casting is by Katja Zarolinski.

Melissa Rose Bernardo, New York Stage Review: That’s right—ashes flying. It’s a strangely slapstick moment in a play otherwise built on sincerity and moments of genuine contemplation. At one point, Nell, when talking to Orla, who’s there to mark the six-month anniversary of Robin’s death, remarks almost off-handedly: “The world is not made for grieving people.” If you’ve ever felt on the verge of being swallowed up by your own grief, you know what she means. When all you feel is numbing sadness, stultifying happiness seems to be everywhere you turn.

David Finkle, New York Stage Review: But clever playwright that she is, she does anything but march out the clichés. Instead, she graciously offers the opposite, something as rare as lilacs in November. What Murray discloses is a play about four thoughtful, intelligent, understanding, accepting women dealing so close to easily with each other as makes no matter.

Thom Geier, Culture Sauce: The Loved Ones stands on more secure ground when the focus remains on Nell. Plunkett radiates an Earth mother rootedness that keeps drawing your focus even as she scrambles to process the news that Gabby delivers and to buy herself some time on what to do with it. Time is the one commodity that all four women seem eager to manipulate — to reverse, to slow down, to speed through. But managing time proves as daunting a challenge as navigating the jagged cliffs of mourning.=

Average Rating: 80.0%