Jonathan Hogan, Simone Kirby, Ciaran O'Reilly: the cast of Molly Sweeney
One of the great Long Wharf Theatre traditions is that the morning of the first rehearsal, the entire company meets in a rehearsal hall and greets the actors and other guest artists who will be joining us for the run of the play. It’s a nice moment, where Long Wharf Theatre’s staff gets together in one place and signals their commitment to the process moving forward.
The cast and creative team of Molly Sweeney were met by the Long Wharf Theatre staff last Friday. “It is the opening of our season and we are out in full force,” said Artistic Director Gordon Edelstein.
Edelstein told the collective that he had been struggling to find the right play to start off the season and that Molly Sweeney was the last show to fall into place. “This is a play I love deeply,” Edelstein said.
He saw the Irish Rep production of the piece and was smitten. “I was bowled over by its beauty, delicacy, simple, great storytelling and its authenticity,” he said.
Charlotte Moore, the director of the play, brought greetings from playwright Brian Friel himself. Friel spent time at Long Wharf years ago, working with then-artistic director Arvin Brown on The Faith Healer. “He remembers Long Wharf fondly,” Moore said. “He is so happy we are here and working in this space,” she said.