The 1995 premiere production of And Neither Have I Wings To Fly by the then-debuting Seanachai Theater Company was the sort of serendipitous treasure one happens on unawares. But Ann Noble's poignant tale of two Irish sisters in 1950 seeking their individual freedom and happiness after the loss of their mother is now just another script, relying for its fulfillment on the expertise of its interpreters.
David Cromer's swiftly-paced direction for this revival production brings out the script's considerable humor but also allows even seasoned actors like John Judd and Laurie Larson to rush their transitions, eliminating much of the verbal richness and the contemplative delicacy that gave the original its enchantment. The chief debilitating factor, however, is the casting of Kathleen and Freddy, the headstrong younger Donnelly daughter and the charming ne'er-do-well who wins her heart, with youthful actors still lacking the range and experience to step outside of themselves and create characters with the depth and dimension to make us care about them. Granted, Susan Bennett and Christian Stolte, playing the elder daughter and her diamond-in-the-rough swain, would probably steal the show no matter what the competition. Both of these storefront-circuit regulars delve their characters for subtextual nuance and interpersonal connections to generate a chemistry that all but shimmers in the air. (Stolte's scenes with Ned Noyes, as his younger brother, likewise suggests the palpable dynamic between them.)
You can't keep a good script down, however, and the word-of-mouth should extend this production's run long enough for its actors to become sufficiently comfortable with their characters -- all written with enough backstory for a play about each one -- to relax and have fun with them.
Opened:
September 9, 2000
Ended:
October 22, 2000
Country:
USA
State:
Illinois
City:
Chicago
Company/Producers:
Michael Leavitt, John York Noble and Fox Theatricals.
Theater Type:
Regional
Theater:
Victory Gardens Theater
Theater Address:
2257 North Lincoln Avenue
Phone:
773-871-3000
Running Time:
2 hrs, 30 min
Genre:
Drama
Director:
David Cromer
Review:
Cast:
John Judd (Peter Donnelly), Laurie Larson (Moira Donnelly), Susan Bennett (Eveline Donnelly), Jessica Schulte (Kathleen Donnelly), Christian Stolte (Charlie Doyle), Ned Noyes (Leo Doyle), Jay Whittaker (Freddy Malone).
Technical:
Set: David Swayze; Costumes: Mary Ellen Park; Lighting: Gregg Essex; Sound: Andre Pluess & Ben Sussman; Dialect coach: Susan Philpot.
Critic:
Mary Shen Barnidge
Date Reviewed:
September 2000
