Written by Sebastian Barry

Directed by Jim Culleton
Produced by Orla Flanagan

Cast: Mary Murray and Aidan Kelly

Click here for biographies.

The Pride of Parnell Street is the WINNER of two Tina Santi Flaherty 1st Irish Theatre Awards for BEST ACTRESS (Mary Murray) and BEST PRODUCTION.

Congratulations to Aidan Kelly, Sabine Dargent and Jim Culleton who received nominations for BEST ACTOR, BEST DESIGN and BEST DIRECTOR respectively, and to all involved in bringing The Pride of Parnell Street to the 1st Irish 2009 Festival in New York.

59E59 Theaters, New York:

1st September – 4th October (no performances on Mondays)

As part of the 1st Irish 2009 Festival

www.59E59.org     www.1stIrish.org

Description:

The Pride of Parnell Street is a moving account of a marriage and a time that have both past. Through interconnecting monologues an estranged couple, Janet and Joe, chart the intimacies of their love and the rupturing of their relationship, as well as their enduring love affair with Dublin city itself.

In this world premiere production, Sebastian Barry’s new play explores, with vivid tenderness, the devastating effects of public and private acts of violence. This is an intimate, heroic tale of ordinary and extraordinary life on the streets of Dublin.

Sebastian Barry is a major, internationally-renowned playwright and novelist. His plays include The Steward of Christendom, Our Lady of Sligo, Prayers of Sherkin and Hinterland. His awards include the BBC/Stewart Parker Trust Award, the Christopher Ewart-Biggs Memorial Prize, the Ireland/America Literary Prize, the Critics’ Circle Award for Best New Play, the Writers’ Guild Award, the Lloyds Private Banking Playwright of the Year Award and the Peggy Ramsay Play Award, as well as nominations for the Olivier Award and Man Booker Prize.

For the full tour history and premiere information on The Pride of Parnell Street, click here.

New York Press Quotes:

‘lovingly acted… written in the artful style you have come to associate with Mr. Barry, in which rambling, vernacular talk assumes the music and patterns of poetry. And as directed by Jim Culleton, Ms. Murray and Mr. Kelly share a gift for sensually summoning the fractured present of people for whom the past seems far more vivid than anything since. Both, in other words, are a pleasure to watch and listen to. Mr. Culleton always keeps them onstage at the same time, so you’re aware of the omnipresence of each in the other’s life. Sabine Dargent’s subtly divided set and Mark Galione’s lighting suggest a couple eternally connected and divided, like lovers in a ghost story.’ - Ben Brantley, New York Times

‘the performances in this Fishamble Theatre Company production, imported from Dublin as part of the 59E59 Theaters’ 1st Irish festival, couldn’t be better.’ –  New York Post

‘powerful central performances’  - Theatremania

‘a breathtakingly effective memory play… Kelly and Murray are consummate performers… Jim Culleton directs Barry’s words with a subtlety and rhythm that are beautifully balanced… “The Pride of Parnell Street” is the first New York production from the Ireland-based Fishamble: The New Play Company, and also one of the first entries in the 1st IRISH theater festival that runs through October. If this gem is any prediction of signs to come, locals will have a tremendous opportunity to experience first-rate Irish theater. “The Pride of Parnell Street” is quite simply brilliant… Joe and Janet will stay with you beyond the final blackout.’  - The Leader, New York

‘Under the secure direction of Jim Culleton, the talented Kelly and Murray turn this language into authentic arias. Kelly, in the more difficult role, is still the real thing, while Murray as the woebegone wife is able to suffuse Janet with a genuine charm.’ – Backstage

‘Under the secure direction of Jim Culleton, the talented Kelly and Murray turn this language into authentic arias. Kelly, in the more difficult role, is still the real thing, while Murray as the woebegone wife is able to suffuse Janet with a genuine charm…This is a feat that shows strikingly what can be done when a writer, director and actors combine their enormous talent and overcome impossible odds in a real triumph.’  - Curtain Up

‘one of the most honest, subtle, and intricate explorations of “the relationship” seen on stage in recent memory.’ – NYTheater.com

Irish Press Quotes:

‘The play is quiveringly beautiful… quite simply magnificent’ – Sunday Independent

‘Barry’s excellent script is laced with lucid humour… so powerfully delivered that it will hardly leave a dry eye in the house… affecting, moving and unmissable theatre… highly recommended.’ - RTE.ie

‘Directed and performed with deft beauty… Jim Culleton’s touch throughout is sure…  a masterpiece of restraint and controlled emotion’  - The Sunday Tribune

‘Absolutely fantastic… the writing is absolutely beautiful… an amazing piece of theatre’ – The View – RTE TV

‘Fishamble’s production quite stunningly realises its potential… an utterly absorbing evening’ – The Sunday Business Post.