Shining City,a CurtainUp Los Angeles theater review

After "Morlan---naturalness" I wrote: "He gradually unfolds to an expansive jovial fellow who, in the last act, meets Ian, who has come from a novice therapist to a man hiding from who he is." Also Neasa, fighting for her man is repeated twice. Shining City,a CurtainUp Los Angeles theater review

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Writing for Us

A CurtainUp Los Angeles Review

Shining City

By Laura Hitchcock

Do you believe what I say? What has happened to me?— John.

Left to Right: Morlan Higgins, William Dennis Hurley
(Photo Credit: Ed Krieger)

It begins as a ghost story. John (Morlan Higgins), a middle-aged Dubliner, calls on novice therapist Ian (William Dennis Hurley) with a tale of seeing Marnie, his wife who was killed in a car accident,in her scarlet coat. She appears in his room, after pounding at his door. Finally he moves to a B&B to escape her. Ian, an ex-priest, doesn't believe in ghosts, gently tries to dissuade him from his obsession.

In the second act, we see Ian, in a violent confrontation with his pwmwife Neasa (Kerrie Blaisdell). He's determined to leave her and their baby. Act 3 is virtually a monologue in which John mumbles obsessively about his passion for Vivian. In Act 4 Ian has a homosexual encounter with a gentle male prostitute, Laurence (Benjamin Keepers). The play's stunning finale bringsJohn and Ian together again.

Conor McPherson, whose plays include several award-wunning ghost stories (The Weir& The Seaferer) doesn't write specifically about the faith he lost at age 15 but his tormented priest embodies it and, in the end, cannot escape it.

Stephen Sachs directs this production with his customary passion. Morlan Higgins plays John in a towering performance underlined by its naturalness. He gradually unfolds to an expansive jovial fellow who, in the last act, meets Ian, who has come from a novice therapist to a man hiding from who he is. Benjamin Keepers plays Laurence, a shabby sweet drug addict. Kerrie Blaisdell is Nessa, a woman fighting for her man.

The title stands for the elusive goal for which we all strive. It you see one play this year, let it be this one.

Editor's Note: For a review of the play in New York and in Chicago go here

Title: Shining City Playwright: Conor McPherson Director: Stephen Sachs Cast: Ian (William Dennis Hurley). John (Morlan Higgins), Neasa (Kerrie Blaisdell), Laurence (Benjamin Keepers). Set Design: Shaun L. Motley Lighting Design: Ken Booth Costume Design: A. Jeffrey Schoenberg Running Time: 1 hour 40 minutes Running Dates: Sept. 19-Dec, 19. 2009 Where: The Fountain Theatre, 5060 Fountain Ave., Los Angeles. Reservations: (323) 663-1525 Reviewed by Laura Hitchcock on Sept. 19.

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