25th Anniversary Season
the musical of The Quiet Man
Music and Lyrics by Johnny Burke
Book by Robert E. McEnroe
Based on The Quiet Man by Maurice Walsh
Directed by Charlotte Moore
Musical Direction by John Bell
Choreography by Barry McNabb
January 16 – April 28, 2013
John Ford’s Oscar winning, The Quiet Man, is one of the best loved and most popular films of all time. Its musical adaptation, Donnybrook!, begins with the haunting love theme, Richard Farrelly’s “The Isle of Innisfree” and marches jauntily through the misty hills of the west of Ireland with a cast of characters headed by the indomitable Mary Kate Danaher, and her counterpart, American prizefighter Sean Enright who, against his strong wishes, has not yet fought his last battle.
Woven so beautifully in the landscape of this classic Irish tale, are the raucous traditional Irish classics entertwined with Johnny Burke’s startling original, beautiful melodies sung by a cast of award-winning Broadway artists. The Quiet Man in all its noisy glory, is alive and well on the stage of The Irish Repertory Theatre, celebrating its 25th Anniversary Season.
“Under Charlotte Moore’s crisp direction, the show manages another remarkable feat: looking past the story’s fists to uncover its heart.” -NY Times
“This well-sung, whimsical “Donnybrook!” is another bright success during the Irish Rep’s 25th anniversary celebration.” – Associated Press
“With a magnificent singing voice, James Barbour, is a sterling-silver musical-comedy baritone, and “Donnybrook!” takes wing whenever he opens his mouth… The four-piece band plays with spirit and the cast sings with schooner-waving gusto” –Wall Street Journal
“Its biggest asset is James Barbour and Jenny Powers as the lovebirds!…A charming production” –NY Post
“Beautifully cast, musically hearty love story with refreshingly simple structure and a happy ending…Director Charlotte Moore is as skillful with intimate scenes as she is with her raucous community” –Woman Around Town
“…a thoroughly entertaining production of a thoroughly old-fashioned musical” -BlogCritics
“…radiant performance by Jenny Powers…cheeky ingenuity in director Charlotte Moore’s staging” -NY Daily News
“…colorful, highly entertaining production…Moore weaves the romantic elements into the whole with ease and knows exactly what to highlight in making the show come together as a total confection. One leaves feeling very good indeed.” -Wolf Entertainment Guide
“Jenny Powers sparkles…Donnybrook is engaging and entertaining, a fun way to start off the Irish ‘season.'” -Irish Examiner
“You can feel the fresh breeze that prods the flinty and folksy characters to life that comes from the four fine musicians, under the direction of John Bell” -Curtain Up