Season in Union Square
CRITIC’S PICK
“Nate Rufus Edelman’s winning drama [is] a pressure cooker at steam heat!” -New York Times
by Nate Rufus Edelman
directed by Claudia Weill
April 15 – June 14, 2015
at the DR2 Theatre in Union Square
In 1985 Belfast, fiery and profane Anne Malloy drinks and smokes her days away with her chubby curry chip-addicted best mate. When she turns to her parish priest, Father Reilly, seeking the comforts of the flesh in addition to the comforts of the soul, she discovers her troubles have just begun. A wry and bittersweet portrait of a city at war, The Belle of Belfast forces us to consider what is wrong and what is righteous.
*Mature language & situations, recommended for ages 16 & up*
“It’s 1985, and Belfast is a city at war, but, remarkably, not lacking in humor….The playwright, Edelman makes fine use of the Confessional as a space of piety and flirtation….One gripping scene after another is masterfully managed by the director, Claudia Weill, and a first-rate cast.” –The New Yorker
“The characters don’t renounce their faith or their political convictions in “The Belle of Belfast.” But they question both, and that makes for very rewarding drama. –The New York Times
“The Belle of Belfast examines the extent to which religious beliefs can inspire and comfort followers… And playwright Edelman’s humanity lies in the depth of his empathy for those troubled. Directed extremely well by Claudia Weill, it is a touchingly unsettling work.” –Huffington Post
“Under the sharp directorial eye of Claudia Weill, this ninety-minute production shows impressive efficiency in developing compelling characters with whose struggles we can empathize, regardless of how far we might be removed from Northern Irish violence. Anchored by the dynamic performances of Lydic and Allan-Headley, the production approaches violent political turmoil on the level of warm and insightful personal struggle.” –Exeunt Magazine
“Doubt meets Lolita” -Onstage