W. Scott McLucas Studio Theatre
A poetical stroll through the National Gallery of London
by Paul Durcan
directed by: Richard Twyman
March 7th – April 1, 2012
The Irish Repertory Theatre presents this special engagement featuring two of Ireland’s greatest actors, Dearbhla Molloy and Dermot Crowley, as they take audiences on a virtual “stroll” through London’s National Gallery—discovering afresh the Museum’s masterpieces through the poetic imagination of Irish writer Paul Durcan.
Find out why Cardinal Richelieu finds it “a hard old station staying off the drink” and why Van Gogh’s mother “is so hot under the bra.”
“Mr. Crowley and Ms. Molloy are fine company. IT’S ALL TOO EASY TO GIVE THEM THAT REQUESTED HAND.” — New York Times
CRITIC’S PICK! “Crowley is endearing and passionate, conveying love for the artwork. Molloy delineates serious and comic characters so distinctly and in so many accents that that they jump off the canvas. Even standing behind lecterns and reading from scripts, THE ACTORS’ CHEMISTRY IS PALPABLE… Durcan the poet, as muse to Crowley and Molloy, provides us with A MOST AMUSING EVENING.” — Backstage
“Two crackerjack, classically trained actors, while appearing to stand at podiums, morph seamlessly before our eyes in age, class, and nationality as they embody characters evoked by images in classic art work. Each painting is projected on a screen accompanied by a few lines of history-so we know where we are, followed by a coming to life of those depicted. This is NOT an academic art lecture. IT’S A LIGHTHEARTED, ENTERTAINING EVENING OF THEATRICAL ORIGINALITY.” — WomanAroundTown
“Dermot Crowley and Dearbhla Molloy… animatedly interpret Paul Durcan’s dramatic monologues based on paintings in London’s National Gallery. And by the time the pair finishes the unusual work, audiences will have learned something about art, and the two actors will have had a field day doing it.” — Theatermania
“”Give Me Your Hand” is a delight to the eye and ear. CROWLEY AND MOLLOY ARE MAGNIFICENT. They bring these poems to life with a warmth and humor only talented performers can achieve. “Give Me Your Hand” is THE MOST LITERATE AND LOVELY SHOW TO BE STAGED IN A LONG, LONG TIME.” — New York Theatre Wire
“RARELY DO WE SEE TRUE BEAUTY IN THE THEATER, BUT GIVE ME YOUR HAND PROVIDES ONE OF THESE EXTREMELY SPECIAL MOMENTS. …worlds are approached, created and dismantled beautifully, with the enormous help of Durcan’s dramatic monologues and the gargantuan talent of the actors. …the attention to a pure and luminous English language and a lot of great art make this one of the more subtle shows now playing in New York, and certainly one of the most original.” — GALO
Give Me Your Hand is presented with the support of Culture Ireland