A stolen kiss in a Limerick loo becomes the catalyst for four decades of longing in Liam McCarthy’s darkly comic play.
Following its triumphant sold-out premiere, Jilly Morgan’s Birthday Party is set to captivate audiences across Ireland with an ambitious nationwide tour this month.
But first, the production returns to its spiritual home at Limerick’s Lime Tree Theatre this week (from September 11-13) before embarking on a nine-venue tour that will see it grace stages from Dún Laoghaire to Tralee.
Limerick playwright Liam McCarthy has crafted something rather special here-a tale that begins with the most fleeting of encounters and blossoms into an achingly beautiful meditation on memory, desire and the moments that define us.
Set against the backdrop of a 1983 Limerick house party, the story centres on Jack, whose brief but electric kiss with a stranger in the downstairs loo becomes an obsession that spans four decades.
Under Joan Sheehy’s direction, this compelling two-hander transforms what could have been a simple tale of unrequited longing into something far more complex and rewarding.
Pat Ryan delivers a masterful performance as Jack, whilst Georgina Miller brings warmth and complexity to Kate, creating a chemistry that has already earned widespread critical praise.
McCarthy, drawing inspiration from Chekhov’s The Kiss, has reimagined the Russian master’s themes for contemporary Irish theatre with remarkable skill. The result is a work that seamlessly weaves together humour and heartbreak, creating a rich tapestry that explores how we carry our defining moments through life.
The production benefits from an impressive creative team. Paul Keogan’s set and lighting design creates the perfect atmospheric backdrop, whilst Tom Lane’s sound design and Gemma Morris’s costume work adds of authenticity to the piece.
It’s a production that promises to resonate long after the final curtain call-much like that fateful kiss that started it all.
The tour continues to Sligo, Longford, Galway, Cork, Ennis, Portlaoise, Waterford and Tralee following its Limerick return. Tickets for the Lime Tree Theatre performances are available at limetreebelltable.ie.