The Ferryman, Gielgud Theatre, London 14.09.2017

What I thought was going to be a week off from Theatre land, turned out to be quite the opposite! With a lovely invite to join Sarah from Musical Theatre Musings, I was off to central London to the Gielgud Theatre for the night viewing of play The Ferryman.

This would be the first time that I have visited the Gielgud Theatre, one of the many theatre’s on Shaftesbury Avenue. Similar to that of the Apollo, and Lyric theatre, it was very intimate, we took our seats Row L seats 4 and 5 within the stalls. Even with being towards the end of the row, I was pleasantly surprised at how good our view was with no restrictions at all. Faces were visible at all times, feeling close to the action, I would recommend these seats to anyone and for myself!

Northern Ireland 1981, in the heart of the IRA and Hunger strikes, The Ferryman focuses on the Carney’s in the middle of their harvest on their well run farm. The whole play is set in the Carney’s family Kitchen with children, parents, aunts and uncles and the occasional friend and animals running through. But in amongst this busy room a past has risen with Quinn’s long lost brother, and Caitlin’s husband body is discovered. This discovery unlocks the secrets of the past, with many hidden stories within the family, keeping the audience at the edge of their seat.

Every emotion is displayed within this play, that is shared directly with the audience. With brilliant comic moments, balanced well with the intimate, knowledge of loss within the Carney family on the discovery of Seamus. It all blended well together keeping the audience drawn in, awaiting to see what will happen next. For a 3 acts, 3 hour play you would feel that it could be too long, but The Ferryman and director Sam Mendes carries it well, you just wanted to keep watching! Along with this their is a full cast of around 20, ranging from a baby to a 90 year old and even including a goose and a rabbit and all of whom work well together, each known their role, relationships with the family within the play and their purpose.  Their is no weaknesses within the cast at any point.

I would usually display the cast list, but as there is a fair few, for this blog I may need to turn you to the plays website for the cast list.

Paddy Considine, carries the story well as Quinn Carney, a father, husband, head of the household, you wouldn’t have believed this was his debut to the west end stage. He displayed every emotion brilliantly, being completely controlled and at times completely disturbed within the secrets that he holds.  His two relationships with his wife Mary played by Genevieve O’Reilly, and Sister in law Caitlin, Laura Donnelly are clearly displayed that enables the audience to clearly know as to which his heart belongs to. Laura Donnelly emotion as the widow left behind was beautiful to watch, she clearly understood and portrayed the role with ease, having the audience sympathise and yet question her at times. Genevieive the mother and wife also displayed her emotions clearly, enabling us to understand her actions and thoughts towards her husband to whom she loves dearly. The three had a storyline within the play, that I thoroughly enjoyed viewing.

The three shall we say older members of the cast each had their own characters as the Aunts and Uncles of the family, Brid Brennan, Des McAleer, and Dearbhla Molloy were a highlight too of the evening. With brilliant moments of sibling rivalry, especially between Aunt Patricia and Uncle Patrick, but also love and affection for each other that you know if anything were to happen they would be by each others side. That also being said with the young talented cast of Quinn and Mary’s many children, each having a little bicker but also the love is displayed within them towards their big family.

It was hart to put a fault to this play, the direction, the set, performers, animals, not one. I was so happy that I managed to see it, having heard very good things about it and now understand why. It is one that defiantly stays with you, with its many stories that displays history, love, and loss all within a kitchen and a huge cast. The Ferryman completely achieves what it has set out to do to its many audiences whom I am sure will agree.

The Ferryman is playing at the Gieguld Theatre until 7th October, for ticket information go to the website here. Try and catch it before to goes, you wont be disappointed.