Off-Broadway Theater Review: Shining City

Matthew Broderick and Billy Carter. Photo: Carol Rosegg

This Story Just Might Have You Believing in Ghosts

By Lauren Yarger

Broken relationships, guilt and a ghost combine to tell the stories of two men searching for life's answers in Conor McPherson's Shining City getting an Off-Broadway revival at Irish Repertory Theatre.

John (Matthew Broderick, sporting an Irish brogue thanks to Dialect Coach Stephen Gabis) has recently lost his wife in a tragic accident. He has been having trouble sleeping, especially after seeing a terrifying sight: the ghost of his wife. He visits therapist Ian (Billy Carter) in his newly established Dublin office (designed by Charlie Corcoran) to seek help. The timid man has been unable to return home since the disturbing experience which he hopes Ian believes him and doesn't think he is losing his mind.

Ian lends a sympathetic ear as John speaks (often in very long monologues) about his marriage and it soon becomes apparent that guilt over his infidelity might be the real culprit behind his lack of sleep and inability to put his wife's death behind him. Meanwhile, Ian might need a few sessions with a therapist himself.

We discover that he recently left the priesthood and became involved with Neasa (Lisa Dwan), with whom he has a newborn daughter. It's become too much, however, and he seeks to end the relationship with an uncomprehending Neasa who begs him to return with her to his brother's where they have been staying. She feels overwhelmed, alone and unwelcome by Ian's sister-in-law.

Parallels are apparent in the relationship between John and his wife and Ian and Neasa including a deterioration brought on by a lack of communication and infidelity. For Ian there's an added difficulty. In his quest to discover who he is post-priesthood, he considers trying sex with Laurence (James Russell), a prostitute he picks up in the park. 

McPherson's lyrical writing (it certainly helps us not fall asleep during those long monologues -- Broderick appeared to be looking for a couple of lines) has us questioning just who is helping whom here and just what reality is, despite what we see -- or don't see -- right in front of our eyes. Loneliness and desperation (common themes for the playwright, along with ghosts) drip off the sentiments expressed, even as the text is peppered with humor.

Directed here by Ciaran O'Reilly, the 100-minute, no intermission production is engaging, but a special effect fails to have the impact it should, partly because we aren't as frightened as we should be by the character's appearance as costumed by Martha Holly. Let's just say there weren't gasps like there were in the original on Broadway which received two Tony Award nominations and starred Brian O'Byrne and Oliver Platt. This revival is the first since that production in 2006.

Shining City plays through July 3 at Irish Repertory Theatre, 132 West 22nd St., NYC. Performances are Tuesday and Thursday at 7 pm; Wednesday at 3 and 8 pm; Friday and Saturday at 8pm;  Saturday and Sunday at 3 pm. Tickets are $50-$70: irishrep.org; 212-727-2737.

Additional credits;

Lighting Design by Michael Gottlieb; Sound Design by M. Florian Staab's Original Music by Ryan Rumery; Property Design by Sven Henry Nelson.

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-- Language

-- God's name taken in vain

-- Homosexuality