Three friends, one bar, and two nights of deep conversation. Distant Music is witty, profound, and purely delightful.
~Review and Photos by Dana Nöllsch~
More about Distant Music
There is a storm outside, and Dev Hart, played by Caulder Temple, opens the Irish Pub, not expecting many, if any, customers, but he is in for an evening that he may remember for some time. He is a bit preoccupied by a decision that looms heavy in his heart when Connor, his friend and customer, comes in from the storm.
Connor Curtin, played by Derek Sullivan, comes into his favorite Irish pub essentially to have a stout and spend some time with his friend Dev, but he has another reason to be there on this stormy evening; he is meeting somebody from his past. When Connor comes in, he engages in some good-natured banter with Dev, biding his time until his friend Maeve arrives to meet him. There is a conversation about what Connor will be drinking that evening, the differences between the Irish and Irish-Americans, the value of good fish & chips, and the capacity of stout to explain most of life.
When Maeve Moore, played by Debra Lynn Hull, comes out of the storm to greet Connor and meet Dev for the first time, she seems a bit troubled. She has a history with Connor and is herself faced with an imminent decision that will affect the rest of her life. She’s meeting Connor there because he may be instrumental in her future after she makes her troubling decision.
These three people in this bar, each with a life-changing decision to make, fuel the conversations. Dev has a business opportunity back home in Ireland, which will take him away from the life he has made in the United States. Connor has been asked to run for a judicial position, which is an excellent opportunity that will most likely never come again. Maeve is being called upon to perform a service in her church that will get her into a bit of trouble with the church leaders.
There is much conversation about these choices and quite a bit of lightheartedness along the way.
Distant Music is funny and exceptionally well-written, with conversation that at times is poetic and heartfelt.
Distant Music was first performed in 2005 at Firefly Productions in Burlington, VT, to much critical acclaim. The title, Distant Music, is inspired by a passage in James Joyce’s “The Dead.”
What about the Performances
Distant Music is one of those plays that you go to see not only for the story, but for the characters that the actors build throughout the play. By that, I mean these actors bring much more to the role than is written in the pages of the script. By the time the show is over, you will feel that you know these characters deeper than you ever thought you could know somebody in just 90 minutes.
Caulder Temple portrays Dev, the lovable but playful bartender. Temple takes on the character of Dev from his anxiety over the choice to be made, right to his accent. Temple creates a bartender you would like to banter with over a Guinness or two.
Derek Sullivan does a terrific job playing Connor and sharing Connor’s feelings about his unfulfilled life. We can feel Connor’s desire to change and find something new.
Debra Lynn Hull plays Maeve, bringing out this character who is both in love with her vocation, and in some ways, desiring a change, perhaps a more normal life if that is ever possible.
Doug Mishler brings these three actors together; his direction and vision for Distant Music are evident from the beginning to the end. You can see Mishler’s polish on the production from the music to the feelings of closure at the end.
The Bottom Line
Restless Artists Theatre’s production of Distant Music is a wonderful escape, but also an exploration into the personalities of three people on the precipice of change.
Funny, poignant, and more, you will not be disappointed.
Distant Music
Directed by D.A. Mishler
Cast
Dev Hart – Caulder Temple
Connor Curtin – Derek Sullivan
Maeve Moore – Debra Lynn Hull
Performance Dates
May 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, 23rd, 24th. 25th, and 25th
Purchase tickets here: https://cur8.com/
Restless Artists Theatre Company
295 20th Street, Sparks
775 525-3074
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