The Home Place at the Comedy

By Robert Iles - 26th May 2005

Set in Ireland in the late 19th Century Brian Friel's play tells of an English landowning family coming to terms with changing times.

The Gore family, Chris (Tom Courtenay) and his son David (Hugh O'Connor) are Kentish men trying to run the estate in a 'kindly' manner, unlike the other local landowners, one of whom has benn beaten to death by Irish nationals. But their interest in the locals is superficial, they can name a few but seem blind to their plight and their poverty, even though they respond with compassion when they are physically confronted with it.

Into this environment comes Cousin Richard (Nick Dunning), an anthropologist, and his 'man Perkins' (Sean Murray), determined to measure and categories the local 'tribes'. He also brings with him notions of master and servant no longer appropriate to the times. Needless to say, the local Irish Nationals take exception to being treated in this way and a confrontation ensues.

Throughout, the household is run by Maggie (Derbhle Crotty)a young maid (Laura Jane Laughlin). Maggie's central role in the house is also a central role in the lives of Chris and David, both of whom love her.

I was unconvinced by the villagers who seemed to have been bolted on to the play but otherwise this is an excellently paced production mixing the measured pace of country life with a real sense of new times coming.

This is a good play, a thought proviking play and an interesting play - but not a great play.

Robert Iles