Eugene O’Neill is credited with writing a magnificent saga, a magnum opus, one of the greatest American plays of the 20th century, entitled “Long Day's Journey into Night.” It takes place in the seaside home of the troubled Tyrone family in a Connecticut cottage called the Monte Cristo and it centers on a quartet of characters that resemble O’Neill’s real family: Eugene, his older brother and his parents, including his father the classical actor James O’Neill. Their story deals with the painful addiction to morphine by his mother, unrealized dreams, bitterness, jealousy, emotional stress and family disappointments. A long day indeed. It all takes place on one fateful day in August 1912.
Playwright Gabe McKinley has sought in his world premiere play to mine humor in this tragic drama by penning his questionings in “Long Days” at the Legacy Theatre in Branford until Sunday, June 29. He takes the audience back stage with the actors and their egos and angst and lets it all hit the fan or in this case the rain water cascading into the room through the ceiling. Think rain drops are falling on my head and I’m angry I’m getting wet.
It’s closing night of the run and the actors are making plans. Susan (Stefanie E. Frame) who plays Mrs. Tyrone with the drug addiction has, in reality, given up her dependence on alcohol and cigarettes, but a prank by a cast member has put booze in her welcoming hands again. She is on her way back to New York City and a much younger Wes, (Dan Frye) one of the sons, has professed his love for her and wants to go back to the city with her. Unfortunately, he was drunk himself last night and, he swears it was a mistake, took the stage manager and actress Victoria (Aniya Taylor) to bed.
The other son Bobby (Thomas Rudden) is consumed with a cough, just like his counterpart in the play, and wants to pursue his acting studies,not realizing the man who plays his father on stage, Jack, (Rob Brogan) is entertaining strong feelings for him romantically. The father figure is, in reality, the father of Wes and the pair don’t see eye to eye which causes fiction. The news that Jack has had a relationship with Susan long ago doesn’t make wither man happy. These painfully human characters struggle to overcome their failures and find if they can forgive themselves and each other. This “family” back stage is little better than the family that stresses to understand each other in front of the curtain. Michael Hogan directs this intense interaction.
For tickets ($36.50 - 56.50) call the Legacy Theatre, 128 Thimble Islands Road, Branford at 203-315-1901 or online at LegacyTheatreCT.org. Performances are Thursday at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.,and Sunday at 2 p.m. Check the website.
In this literary ode to Eugene O’Neill, recognize that all families have difficulties understanding each other’s roles in life that can cause troubles and sadness and minor and major disagreements that change the temper of their behavior.
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