Courtesy of Culture Northern Ireland
MyCity4Her recently attended a Center Stage performance of the Tony-nominated play “Stones in His Pocket” by Belfast, Ireland based playwright and actress Marie Jones.
Derek Goldman directs this funny, poignant, at times shocking comedy which runs through Feb 23, 2014. The play since it’s first preview show on January 15th has for the most part claimed only accolades from the theatre review community of Baltimore and beyond…
The City Paper review isn’t kidding when it says it this “Holloywood-comes-to-the-Irish-countryside-goes deep”. Indeed it does.
The Maryland Theatre Guide calls the production a “rocking good tragicomic two-man show that is made all the better for its brilliant acting, staging and direction” and we have to agree.
Broadwayworld’s short and sweet favorable blurb hails you to “Sip your Guiness and Enjoy!” but does point out that sadly most promotional imagery of the production doesn’t include the actual actors playing in this particular production but those from another incarnation…Who knows why that is? Either way, we enjoyed the play, and found it for the most part quite entertaining.
Our only regrets were the following things… At times, because the play only consists of two actors performing (between the two of them what seems like over a dozen distinctively different roles), it can be somewhat frenetic to follow if you don’t pay attention. This, coupled with the distraction of an unusually particularly boisterous patron (who thought her loud guffaws and shrill laughter) didn’t make for the most restful of evenings. But you don’t go to the theater to rest, you go to be engaged, to be engrossed, to be swept away…Something Center Stage’s production of Stones in His Pockets manages rather merrily.
The two lead actors – Clinton Brandhagen and Todd Lawson- are uncannily adept at their ability to dance through the unique qualities of each character almost seamlessly. Looks like Center Stage’s Director Kwame Kwei-Armah OBE has another winner on his hands, indeed we enjoyed the production thoroughly.
To get a taste of what you might enjoy if you decide to check it out see the video below.
When you consider the average cost of a regular movie is $10-14 depending on what you’re seeing, this level of talent and sheer entertainment starting at the very accessible price of $19 is a veritable bargain and we encourage you to take advantage of the show while it’s running through Feb 23, 2014. Tickets may be purchased by calling 410-332-0033, or visiting www.centerstage.org. Complete information on the entire season can be found at www.centerstage.org/2013-2014season.