New play burns with a vengeance at Esker Arts in Tullamore

By Ger Scully

THE cabin in the woods is one of the most atmospheric devices in storytelling conjuring up feelings of isolation, loneliness, and self-sufficiency, it has featured in every genre of storytelling from horror to drama.

And now it plays a character in the new theatre production, "The Burned Man" which comes to Esker Arts in Tullamore this June.

Blending elements of suspense, drama, and laugh out loud comedy the play tells the story of Elijah Bright – the burned man of the title – a disfigured character who has lost everything in a house fire and is about to take bloody revenge on the couple he holds responsible for the tragedy.

However as his dark night of the soul progresses each of the characters begin to come to terms with who they really are and how their life choices have brought them together, leading to a surprising pay off.

This three hander consists of Daniel Murray as title character, a man as full of contradictions as he is of rage. Sean Doyle as Conroy, a motormouth slacker who is as endearing as he is annoying. And Claire Lemass as Morrigan, the smart observer who eventually becomes the beating heart of the story.

The play, which has already won several awards while touring the country is written and directed by Patrick Fogarty, a native of Tipperary.

Patrick is an award winning playwright who along with Daniel is one half of the newly formed Fomóire Productions.

Patrick’s previous play "The Incarnation of the Prodigal Son" played to great audience response in Esker Arts when it was staged by Tullamore Amateur Dramatic Society (TADS).

"The Burned Man" with its heady mixture of darkness and comedy should do likewise.

It has been staged previously in Thurles, Galway, and Kildare.

Reviewing the play, the Tipperary Star/ Tipperary Live said "Throughout the evening laughter rolled freely, a testament to Fogarty's deft command of dark comedy and to the precise timing of the cast."

"The Burned Man" runs on June 19 and 20, and tickets can be booked on the Esker Arts website eskerarts.ie
 

Originally published by Offaly Live