The Arts Barn Gets An Irish Makeover

Montgomery Playhouse is back at the Arts Barn Theatre this season with "Stones in his Pockets," a two-hander by Marie Jones. Two actors, J. McAndrew Breen and Kevin S. Dykstra, play fifteen characters all implicated in the comical unraveling of an effort to film a Hollywood movie - The Quiet Valley - in Ireland.

Just in time for St. Patrick's Day celebrations this month, the 2001 Broadway hit "Stones in his Pockets" brings the cheer (and woes) of being Irish and in the movie business to The Arts Barn stage. The cast and crew, in collaboration with The City of Gaithersburg, have set up a lively pub with traditional Gaelic music and authentic Irish beer in The Arts Barn. The pub is open and ready to serve one hour before the show, at intermission, and half an hour after the show.

Staging this play presents unique challenges. The set is redolent of Beckett-sian minimalism. In keeping with the movie-making theme, a large backdrop features both moving picture and still-image projections. From close-ups of cows chewing on their own cud to sweeping vistas of Irish shores, these backgrounds provide effective comic relief as well as believable scene settings in high resolution.

The main prop is a large black chest, which serves as an on-stage costume closet for the two actors, who change swiftly in and out of their garb right in front of the audience, while carrying on in spirited dialogue. The chest also transforms into a bar in a pub, a seating bench, a tractor, and a coffin.

Breen, who is of Irish descent and has experience as a professional actor with past appearances at the Kennedy Center in Sheer Madness and the Round House Theatre in "A Prayer for Owen Meaney," comments on the challenges of playing eight different characters.

"Switching roles is definitely the biggest challenge. I really enjoyed changing from acting Simon who has a Dublin accent to Charlie who is from Northern Ireland."

Breen also plays the female lead, Caroline Giovanni, conveying both her seductive persona and her persistent discomfort in her own skin with a masterful and hilarious farcical sympathy for her character.

"Even though I am very busy with my day job and my family, I decided to take on these roles because I love Irish literature and poetry. I have also acted alongside Kevin before, and we have fun and work well together."

Kevin Dykstra, has been with Montgomery Playhouse since 1987.

"I live in Fairfax, so I always go for the plays that I find interesting. I heard Roxanne was directing, and I love working with her," said Dykstra who routinely gets himself kicked out of pubs, thrown off the movie set and perfects the repeating "defeated, broken men" scene in "The Quiet Valley."

Ultimately Marie Jones's play is a story about people with grand hopes and aspirations and who are always looking for opportunities to change their lot, whether through emigration or a chance to rub shoulders with Hollywood stars.

Friday, March 4, at opening night, the production received a standing ovation from the audience.

Behind the scenes credits go to: Roxanne Stone, Director; Jean Aviles, Assistant Director; Donna Dangle, Producer; Brian Butters, Sound and Image Execution; Frank Sesando, Stage Manager; Andrew Eastman, Lighting Designer; and Roger Stone, Sound Designer.

To find out more about the Arts Barn Theater and purchase tickets online, click here.

To learn more about Montgomery Playhouse and upcoming productions, click here.