THE HANGOVER REPORT – Jaki McCarrick’s world premiere play THE NATURALISTS is tender, meandering

John Keating, Sarah Street, and Michael Mellamphy in the Pond Theatre Company's production of "The Naturalists" by Jaki McCarrick at the Walkerspace Theatre.

Tim Ruddy, Sarah Street, and John Keating in the Pond Theatre Company’s production of “The Naturalists” by Jaki McCarrick at the Walkerspace Theatre.

At the Walkerspace Theater in Soho, the Pond Theatre Company is hosting the world premiere production of Jaki McCarrick’s play The Naturalists. Set in County Monaghan in Ireland, the play tells the story of two middle aged brothers who live secluded lives in the back country. Both lost souls, their stagnant idyll is interrupted when a mysterious young woman enters their cluttered home. Later in the play, an unsavory fourth character from the brothers’ past is introduced, prompting several secrets to be revealed, mobilizing the other three characters into action and to enter the land of the living.

Ms. McCarrick’s has written a tender play that’s striking in its naturalism, particularly as it relates to the piece’s pleasantly meandering first half. However, the play’s more active second half – which brings the darker, more histrionic shades of Martin McDonagh into the mix – strikes somewhat of a false note. Indeed, a part of me feels that the current iteration of The Naturlists is a good first draft of a play still trying to find its footing and the right tone.

The Pond Theatre Company production is co-directed by Colleen Clinton and Lily Dorment, an interesting feature for a play. They’ve served the play’s mostly calm spirit well with a patient staging that’s subdued and well-paced. However, their treatment of the play’s jarring climax was almost as awkward as the brothers’ reaction to conflict. Nevertheless, the show’s quartet of actors – John Keating, Michael Mellamphy, Tim Ruddy, Sarah Street – is excellent. Each understands the calm rhythms of the play, giving internally-focused performances that feel lived in.

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THE NATURALISTS
Off-Broadway, Play
The Pond Theatre Company at the Walkerspace Theater
2 hours (with one intermission)
Through September 23

Categories: Off-Broadway, Theater

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