Bravo!!! Prepare to be moved.
If you have seen any shows at the Banshee, you will be familiar with its commitment to quality. The Year of the Hiker is no exception. Excellent production values abound: direction, sets, costumes and cast are all top notch. There is no weak link in this chain. This well written and expertly acted production transports us to 1960 Ireland where we are held hostage and spent by the end of this emotionally charged script.
By John B. Keane, this is a poetic gem that throws a family into turmoil when it must face the anger and hatred for the father and husband whom has abandoned them and decides to return when he learns he is dying of liver disease. On the road for twenty years, he returns, coincidentally, on his daughter’s wedding day after “escaping” from a hospital in England. The family he left behind is forced to deal with the unwanted and unexpected reunion and the feelings of betrayal and pain that have been buried but not forgotten. Can they open their hearts and forgive this man who devastated each of them? One by one we learn the depth of pain each feels.
The cast, led by Barry Lynch, is without weakness. As the Hiker, Lynch, as always, is excellent and is able to garner our sympathy despite his despicable deeds. Lynch is an actor's actor and always stands out. I have seen him in five shows at the Banshee and have never witnessed anything less than excellence.
Josie DiVincenzo is Freda, the aunt who holds the family together and, like Lynch, is a Banshee regular. Freda is the polar opposite of the character DiVincenzo portrayed in the Banshee production of “Loyal Women,” and if you were lucky enough to catch that performance, her range as an actress will truly impress you. Freda’s relationship with the Hiker reveals just how far reaching the pain is he has caused every member of this family. She is superb.
The two brothers, Joe and Simon, played by Shawn Savage and Zack Gold respectively, both have an incredible presence and light up the stage with equally stellar performances. Gold, as the younger brother, who does not remember his dad, nevertheless feels the pain as deeply as his brother, Joe, whom has vivid memories of this man who was his hero. At one point, Joe asks the Hiker “Why didn’t you take me with you?” The line goes through you like a knife, and you feel the pent up pain of a little boy who has had his life turned upside down.
Rebecca Wackler playing the abandoned wife, Kate, with a quiet intensity gives a performance guaranteed to bring a tear to your eye when she confronts the man whom has made her life a hell for twenty years. I can only say you will be moved by her vulnerability.
The newlyweds, daughter, Mary, and son-in-law, Willie, played by Amanda Deibert and Robin Leabman, while only on stage in one or two scenes, both sparkle and add to the overall quality of this production.
Arthur MacBride's set expertly exploits the small Banshee space and made me feel like an intruder in this family crisis (I especially appreciated the fact that the walls did not shake when doors were closed).
Having seen six shows at the Banshee, I have come to expect excellence and this production did not let me down. Director, Sean Branney has an incredible ability to get the very best from each and every actor. Each production I have seen at the Banshee is better than the one before it. Make sure you get to see this show. You will be moved.
My wife and I both loved not only the show but the venue as well. The Banshee is an incredibly intimate stage, bringing the audience face-to-face with the actors, where you are literally only a couple of feet from the stage. Be warned, however, that being so close can be quite intense when watching a dramatic piece like this. I saw more than one person fanning themselves with their programs at some dramatic moments, and it was not because the temperature was high.
You will love this show and the venue. I have never taken the time to write a review before, but I felt compelled to share this wonderful production. If you get there early, and I suggest you do, you can enjoy a meal or a coffee across the street at Urban Eats (at intermission be sure to enjoy a Banshee Brownie. They are delicious). There is also ample parking and I found a spot just two doors down on Magnolia. I look forward to hearing impressions from others of this show. Enjoy.