Misterman

mistermanFollowing on from the spectacular success of New Electric Ballroom (Griffin Theatre 2012) and Penelope (Tap Galley 2013), the incomparable Kate Gaul is once bringing the work of multi award-winning playwright, Enda Walsh to the Sydney stage with the Australian premiere of Misterman at The Old Fitz Theatre in June.

Originally written by Walsh in 1999 but then reworked for the playwright’s own production in 2012, Misterman tells the story of Thomas Magill and the town of Inishfree where Magill has taken refuge. Inishfree might seem like a quaint Irish town, but fierce evangelist Thomas Magill knows better.

He knows jovial Dwain Flynn is a miserable drunk, that Timmy O’Leary enslaves his lovely mother and that sweet Mrs Cleary is a blasphemous flirt. It is down to Thomas, with God on his shoulder, to save this sinful place. But the townsfolk are not listening, an angel is misbehaving and a barking dog will not be silenced. Just how far will Thomas go in his  quest for salvation?

Mistermanman show that requires an extraordinary actor to do it justice. Thomas Campbell (Downton Abbey, Simon Stone’s Hamlet, Kate Gaul’s Penelope)is just that actor. Campbell will play Thomas Magill and the entire population of Inishfree and is thrilled to take on one of the most daunting and epic roles of his career to date.

Of Walsh’s work, and why she can’t stay away from bringing his plays to the Sydney Theatre scene, Gaul says: “Enda Walsh creates imaginative worlds of force and beauty.  His characters are haunted by death and solitude and yet filled with a phenomenal physical energy.”

They are entrapped by their memories; they are myth-makers; they have language of mesmerising energy. He’s a great funny, sad, joyful and devastating storyteller and his sense of the theatre is consummate. He is simply one of the best writers in English and it continues to be a privilege to direct these works.”

“Enda Walsh, one of the most fiercely individual voices in the theatre today…this is a seductive and terrifying portrait of a luminous madness that dares you not to look away.” – New York Times

Director: Kate Gaul  Featuring: Thomas Campbell and the voices of – Briallen Clarke, Josef Ber, Maggie Blinco, Madeline Baghurst, Peter Eyers, Deborah Galanos, Eliza Logan, George Kemp, Jane Phegan  Lighting Design: Harley T A Kemp  Sound Design: Nate Edmondson  Dialect Coach: Natasha McNamara  Stage Manager: Madeline Baghurst  Rehearsal Observer: Carissa Licciardello

Misterman
Old Fitz Theatre, 129 Dowling Street, Woolloomooloo
Season continues to 27 June 2015
Bookings: www.oldfitztheatre.com

For more information, visit: www.sirentheatreco.com for details.

Image: Thomas Campbell – photo by Kathy Luu