Burning Coal Theatre Company's U.S. Premiere of
Colin Murphy's Haughey/Gregory Is Interesting,
Enlightening, Entertaining, and Admirable

Let me start by applauding Burning Coal Theatre Company for implementing the idea of producing a "Pop-Up Production." That is, I congratulate the idea of making use of the space to dovetail in another measure of what we all hunger for -- more theater -- without interfering with their mainstage production of Copenhagen.

To clarify, the Pop-Up Production -- the U.S. premiere of Haughey/Gregory by Colin Murphy -- is playing Mondays through Wednesdays this week and next -- during the run of Copenhagen, which plays Thursdays through Sundays until Oct. 27th.

With imaginative staging and brisk pacing, director Flora Bare has served up a very entertaining (as well as informative) piece. She deserves major kudos for her decisions about the use of the space.

Note: This production during our own current political season is quite timely, because of the play's perspectives on politics.

Andrew Price Carlile (right) stars in the U.S. premiere of Colin Murphy's Haughey/Gregory at Burning Coal (photo by Kevin Lord)

Tony Gregory was a young teacher from Dublin, Ireland's "inner city" who cared passionately about the plight of "the little guy." Specifically, his concern was for the living conditions and the future of families living in abject poverty.

While spending time working with local community workers and left-wing activists, Gregory felt that the next logical step would be to get "on the inside," where his movement could access the "levers" of government. To that end, he decided to run (as an independent candidate) for a seat in the Dáil Éireann (the Irish legislative body), and he was elected.

With the two major parties running neck-and-neck, Gregory found himself in a position in which he could be "king-maker" by joining one of the two voting blocs. The result: the Gregory Deal of 1982, in which some strides toward a "program of national reform" were made.

How many of the immediate "promises" would be kept? And what would be the effects on the "long game"?

Preston Edgar Campbell (center) stars in Colin Murphy's Haughey/Gregory at Burning Coal (photo by Kevin Lord)

The Play:

A series of vignettes gives a thumbnail sketch of the events, introducing us to the main players, several interesting minor characters, the issues at stake, and the progress toward the goals.

Serious information is shared with the audience, often conveyed through comical situations. We see such delights as playful burlesquing of stereotypes and physical comedy, interspersed with expressions of concern about the people's real, pressing needs.

We see the gears turning as political machinations move forward and a program of "investment in one of [Ireland's] poorest communities" is outlined and set up for implementation.

And we are there at a climactic and victorious moment.

Then, in a sort of epilogue, we hear about a "bizarre ... unprecedented ... grotesque ... mischance" that affects the next phase of the "long game" and then about events ranging into the future.

Haughey/Gregory's cast includes (from left) Laurel Ullman, Margaret-Ellen Christensen, and Preston Edgar Campbell (photo by Kevin Lord)

The Acting:

Five actors create more than 30 roles, using a wide variety of voices and accents, postures and mannerisms, and costumes and accessories. They deftly handle fast and frantic changes (often right on stage), thereby seasoning the serious subject matter with additional comedy.

Margaret-Ellen Christensen's Eileen is endearing from the start. In addition to being secretary in the office occupied by Tony Gregory and company, Eileen acts as a narrator, as our touchstone to the world of the play. Christensen also covers nine other roles. Eileen's application for the job of secretary is especially cute.

Preston Edgar Campbell deftly handles the two quite different roles of Tony Gregory and Desmond O'Malley, earning admiration for Gregory while engendering laughter at O'Malley.

Andrew Price Carlile plays Liam -- one of Gregory's cohorts who offers different perspectives on Gregory's strategies. He also covers nine additional roles.

As Barry (Gregory's other cohort), Laurel Ullman rounds out the trio of activists. Ullman covers six additional, quite distinct characters.

Charles Haughey, the other "mighty opposite," is portrayed by Dan Oliver. No matter what the character says, Oliver makes it quite obvious what his priorities are. Oliver also makes appearances as a second (minor) character.

The "music" of the lines (delivered in a variety of Irish accents) is delightful, thanks dialect coach Rebecca Bossen. I feel inclined to extend further kudos to the actors and the director!

The U.S. premiere of Colin Murphy's Haughey/Gregory stars Andrew Price Carlile (photo by Kevin Lord)

The Tech:

Keep in mind that this production is being "dovetailed" in on "Copenhagen's stage." Meredith Riggan (assisted by ColeTrain) is credited as "Scenic Change Artist." Riggan and director Flora Bare should probably be credited for the imaginative way in which the space is converted into a setting for Haughey/Gregory, creating multiple locations for the various scenes.

Costumes and properties design are by Lynda Clark.

Lighting design is by Christopher Popowich (assisted by Julianna Babcock) and sound design is by Juan Isler.

Barry Jaked covers both technical director and master electrician, and Bri Flynn is production stage manager.

Margaret-Ellen Christensen stars in the U.S. premiere of Colin Murphy's Haughey/Gregory at Burning Coal (photo by Kevin Lord)

Nice Touches:

• The simultaneous conversations -- Eileen on the phone vs. the others in the office.
• The scenes with the eager reporters "in pursuit" of their interviewees.
• The use of a projector to project names of locations and dates on the wall.
• Changing the slide reading "based on an actual event" to "loosely based ...."
• Use of radio broadcasts and speeches at rallies
• Celebrations with songs and dance (especially a bit of step dance).
• A bit of Three Stooges physical comedy at times.
• The frantic rate at which Gregory's group types up the details of their demands.
• The casual conversation (over drinks) between Gregory and Haughey.
• The heckling by deputies in the balcony during Gregory's speech in the Dáil Éireann.

Haughey/Gregory stars Andrew Price Carlile (left) and Preston Edgar Campbell (photo by Kevin Lord)

Memorable Lines:

• "And you're supposed to be a socialist! Where do you get this reformist rubbish?"
• "You know, for a socialist, you're not very big on workers' rights!"
• "The corporation talks about 'revitalizing the urban fabric' but ... you're going to be de-tenanted."
• "We have to force them to listen to us."
• "We have to beat them every time. They only have to beat us once."
• "Condoms without prescription."
• "It would be a great shame if we were to lose the chance to form a government because some of our own people were disloyal."
• "You're pushing an open door gentlemen."
• "As Al Capone once said, 'Nice doing business with you!'"
• "You can write your own history, Tony."
• "Duck off a water's back."
• "I have one of a hundred and fifty-six votes. Because of a freak of politics, we have a chance to make that vote count for our people -- the people ringing that phone."
• "Politics should be about doing what's right because it's right."
• "And don't forget the carbon paper."

The cast for Haughey/Gregory includes (from left) Andrew Price Carlile, Laurel Ullman, and Preston Edgar Campbell (photo by Kevin Lord)

From the Department of Picky-Picky:

While Colin Murphy's script, the work of the director and the actors, and the information shared via slide projections make it easy to get "the gist of it," I would have enjoyed the show more if there had been access to a "cheat sheet" (similar to the two provided in Burning Coal's digital program of Copenhagen) to clarify "vocabulary words" and place names.

The Bottom Line:

It's not every day that we can attend a "U.S. Premiere," and this one is an especially good one. The subject matter is interesting and enlightening, and the performances are entertaining and admirable. More than that, however, Haughey/Gregory (like every show at Burning Coal Theatre Company) offers "food for thought"; and I, for one, am always eager for that.

In short: CATCH IT IF YOU CAN!

BONUS #1: General admission tickets for the 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 21st, and Tuesday, Oct. 22nd, performances only, to Haughey/Gregory by Colin Murphy are JUST $10!

BONUS #2: Colin Murphy himself is flying in from Ireland, and will attend Monday's performance.

From left are Dan Oliver, Preston Edgar Campbell, Margaret-Ellen Christensen, and Andrew Price Carlile (photo by Kevin Lord)

Colin Murphy's HAUGHEY/GREGORY (In-Person U.S. premiere at 7:30 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, Oct. 16 and 21-23), directed by Flora Bare and starring (in alphabetical order) Preston Campbell, Andrew Price Carlile, Margaret-Ellen Christensen, Dan Oliver, and Laurel Ullman (Burning Coal Theatre Company in the Murphey School Auditorium in Raleigh). DIGITAL PROGRAM: https://burningcoal.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/HAUGHEY-GREGORY-digital-program.pdf. TRAILER: https://www.facebook.com/burningcoaltc/videos. PODCAST INTERVIEW WITH DIRECTOR FLORA BARE: https://burningcoal.podbean.com/e/episode-115-flora-bare/. PRESENTER: https://burningcoal.org/, https://www.facebook.com/burningcoaltheatrecompany, https://www.instagram.com/burningcoaltc/, https://twitter.com/burningcoaltc, and https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3qVv6iWGS3yQtVoFH5_XNQ. PODCASTS: https://burningcoal.podbean.com/. VENUE: https://burningcoal.org/plan-your-visit/ and https://burningcoal.org/history-of-the-murphey-school/. DIRECTIONS/PARKING: https://burningcoal.org/plan-your-visit/. HAUGHEY/GREGORY (2018 Dublin Political Comedy): https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/haugheygregory-9781350135338/, https://www.fishamble.com/haughey-gregory.html, and https://irishplayography.com/play?playid=60637. THE SCRIPT (excerpts): https://books.google.com/books. COLIN MURPHY (Irish playwright, screenwriter, journalist, and documentary filmmaker): http://colinmurphy.ie/ and https://www.lisarichardscreatives.co.uk/clients/colin-murphy/. NOTE: Playwright Colin Murphy will attend the show's 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 21st, performance. TICKETS: $20 ($10 students), plus taxes and fees. Click here to buy tickets. INFORMATION: 919-834-4001 or info@burningcoal.org. PLEASE DONATE TO: Burning Coal Theatre Company.

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