Carlsbad company is first to land the U.S. staging rights, outside of Broadway, for this Tony-winning play about the Irish 'Troubles'
Before opening Saturday night at New Village Arts Theatre in Carlsbad, Jez Butterworth’s “The Ferryman” was produced just twice — In London in 2017 and on Broadway in 2019. In both locations, the dark family drama about the Irish “Troubles” was showered with awards, including Best New Play.
And yet, New Village pulls off the hat trick in a lively and fast-moving production that’s thoughtfully directed by Kristianne Kurner and studded with exceptional performances. On opening night, some of the accents were inconsistent and often the flow of character entrances and exits felt more programmed than natural. But “The Ferryman” is a rip-roarer of a play, both funny and tragic, and it ends with a surprising gut punch heralded by the wail of ghostly banshees.
But Seamus isn’t the only character in the play who has disappeared. Most of the adults — impacted by loss, trauma, secrets and fear — have done their own vanishing acts.