GHOSTS AFTER IBSEN is a newly revised, freely adapted version of Henrik Ibsen's Ghosts. Kilroy bravely examines ways in which the sins of a father are visited on children in a family frightened by ghosts. Forces of the past and present collide in this biopsy of the interactions between private and public lives, between church and secular values, and of the characters' prospects as they try to make up for lost time where there's no space left for the truth.
"Directing Thomas Kilroy's adaptation of Ibsen's Ghosts is one of the most exciting experiences I've had in years,” said Mr. Pendleton. “His play amounts to more than a rethinking of the Ibsen play. It's a whole new play. A play about Ireland, about women discovering their own strength in the 80s, AIDS, Catholicism, pain and the chaos and, yes, sometimes even the crazy dark humor that arises from the collision of all those things. It's beautifully written. And the cast of this production is astonishing and moving.”
Thomas Kilroy’s plays include: THE DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF MR. ROCHE (Dublin Theatre Festival, 1968 and Hampstead Theatre, London); THE O’NEILL (Peacock Theatre, 1969); TEA AND SEX AND SHAKESPEARE (Abbey Theatre, Dublin Theatre Festival, 1976); TALBOT’S BOX (Abbey Theatre, Dublin Theatre Festival, 1977 and
Royal Court Theatre, London); DOUBLE CROSS (Field Day Theatre, 1986 and Royal Court Theatre); THE MADAME MacADAM TRAVELLING THEATRE (Field Day Theatre,
1991 and Irish Repertory Theatre, New York); THE SECRET FALL OF CONSTANCE WILDE (Guthrie Theatre, Minneapolis 2008/Bite 2000 International Festival, Barbican Theatre, London/Melbourne International Festival, 1998 and Abbey Theatre, 1997); THE SHAPE OF METAL (Abbey Theatre, Dublin 2003 and Origin Theatre Co, New York 2007). He has also done versions of Chekhov's SEAGULL (Royal Court Theatre 1981) Ibsen's GHOSTS (Peacock Theatre, Dublin Theatre Festival 1989) and Pirandello's SIX CHARACTERS IN SEARCH OF AN AUTHOR (Abbey Theatre 1996) and HENRY IV (Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre 2005) and CHRIST DELIVER US! (Abbey Theatre, Dublin 2010).
Director, Austin Pendleton, has directed Between Riverside and Crazy, by Stephen Adly Giurgis, now at 2nd Stage and previously at the Atlantic Theatre. He is in rehearsal at CSC directing Hamlet, starring Peter Sarsgaard. He recently acted at the Public Theatre in Straight White Men, written and directed by Young Jean Lee.
GHOSTS AFTER IBSEN features Lauren Hobbs, Joe Stillman, Debra Lass, Keegan McDonald and Jim Broaddus.
Production design includes Stage Management by Greg Petroff, Sound and Scenic Design are by Catherine Goodman.
Performances of GHOSTS AFTER IBSEN are on Tuesdays through Friday at 8pm - with the exception of Monday, March at 8pm, Friday March 6 at 7pm and Sunday March 8 at 3pm and 7PM.
