By Barbara McGuire
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
It may be the uppity, booming Celtic drum, it may be the
sometimes comical lyrics of the Irish jingles, or it may even be
the “River Dance” type of choreography ““ whatever
it is, everyone seems to like it.
A musical play directed by Richard Nelson, “James
Joyce’s The Dead” has audience members humming
traditional Irish tunes as they exit the theater as well as making
mental notes to sign up for that quick stepping Irish dancing class
later.
The two-hour long play, now showing at the Ahmanson Theatre, is
derived from an Irish short story written by James Joyce and
published in 1914. Adapted from Joyce’s final work in
“Dubliners” and his first book of short stories,
“The Dead” has stunned many with its success. It was
the 2000 Tony Award winner for best musical of a book and it won
the New York Drama Critics Circle Award, as well as the Lucille
Lortel Award for best musical.
Although the story does not span much time in reality, primarily
taking place in one night, years are revealed through the rich and
sometimes painful memories of the characters.
The stage opens at the annual Christmas party of a musically
inclined Irish family. The party is thrown by the two aunts and
their niece who live in the home. Gabriel Conroy (Stephen
Bogardus), the main character, and his wife, Gretta (Faith Prince)
join the party after most of the guests, who compromise three
generations worth of family, have arrived.
Songs are performed throughout the night, the lyrics of which
were adapted by Nelson and Shaun Davey from Joyce as well as 18th
and 19th century Irish poets. Each song serves to symbolize
different facets for each character’s personality.
For instance, when Michael (Brandon Sean Wardell), one of the
young students of Gabriel’s Aunt, sings a song from his home
land, “Kate Kearney,” Gretta is taken back in time and
reminded of a boy she once knew and loved. Painful forgotten
memories ensue, causing further drama for her and her husband.
Despite the name, “The Dead,” the show has its fair
share of comedy as well as tear-jerking moments.
Freddy (Stephen Spinella), for example, is one relative who is
constantly embarrassing his mother because, as she puts it,
“He’s screwed,” or in other words, always drunk.
With a lanky and loose body, an obnoxious laugh and thick rimmed
glasses, Freddy seems like the cousin to go out and have a good
time with, mostly through laughing at him, not with him.
As with the other characters, the audience learns more about
Freddy’s personality through his prepared song for the
evening. He chooses a song which hails praise to a local pub and
all it has to offer, titled “Three Jolly Pigeons,”
resulting in his mother practically dragging him out of the family
room ““ all of which provides smiles from most audience
members and laughs from some.
Another moment of comedy is when Aunt Kate (Marni Nixon), Aunt
Julia (Sally Ann Howes) and Miss Molly Ivors (Alice Ripley), sing
their prepared song for the evening.
Aunt Julia, an old woman who has just been bitterly replaced at
the local church choir, announces that it is more of a song for the
church and then breaks into girlish giggles as they begin singing
“Naughty Girls,” a song about how they cheated at cards
and did all sorts of “bad” things.
Throughout the play the audience learns just how important music
and dance are to the members of the 19th century Irish family. For
them, song is used as symbolism of patriotism, a message of love, a
call for passion and a way to show thanks and gratitude. The dead
are literally woken through their music.
THEATER: “James Joyce’s The Dead” shows at the
Ahmanson Theatre at the Performing Arts Center of Los Angeles
County, 135 N. Grand Ave. through Sept. 3. There is to be a special
“Pay What You Can” performance on August 17. Regular
performances are at 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, with
additional shows at 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Prices vary. For
more information, call (213) 628-2772 or visit www.TaperAhmanson.com.