It’s easy to fall for a bad boy.
No where is that more evident than in John Millington Synge’s “Playboy of the Western World,” on stage now at the Rogue Theatre through Feb. 2.
Of course, this bad boy, Christopher (a beautifully nuanced Hunter Hnat) is also a fine storyteller.
He enters a pub in County Mayo as a meek, dirty and frightened man. He doesn’t hold much interest to the other patrons, all drowning in ennui. But then he spills a tale about killing his father, splitting the cruel man’s head in two with a loy, a type of spade.
Now this is impressive to the others as they pepper him with questions and he elaborates beyond reason.
Christopher stands up straighter as his new admirers lavish praise on him. The whole village seems to fetishsize him. Women fawn over him and shower him with gifts. Men admire him. The Widow Quinn (a wonderful Sophie Gibson-Rush), hungry for another husband, tries to seduce him. The barmaid Pegeen (the always-fine Bryn Booth) shuns her dull but acceptable fiancé and flings herself at Christopher, who falls head over heels for her.
From right, Shannon Elias, Chelsey Jean Smith, Chelsea Bowdren, Hunter Hnat and Sophie Gibson-Rush are the cast of Rogue Theatre’s production of “Playboy of the Western World.” Performances continue through Feb. 2.
That is, until Christopher’s father shows up, angry, his head bloody and bandaged, but very much alive.
Christopher realizes he must now murder his father again to maintain his newfound status.
This does not sit well with the others. Violence as a story, a myth, is fine, even if it is true. But in their face? That’s another thing entirely.
Synge’s beautiful lyricism is given full breadth by this in-tune cast. And Director Cynthia Meier makes sure his humor is as present as the horror.
There are really no likable characters in this play, and yet it is hard to let that dampen the experience of watching it.
“Playboy” was first performed in 1907. Riots ensued — the idea of patricide did not sit well with the Irish. Many complained that it wasn’t political and they frowned on the unkind portrayal of Irish women.
Performances in the United States in 1911 were also met with protests, and the company was even arrested for staging an immoral performance.
No such hullabaloo follows the play now, and thank goodness. Under the guise of lyrical storytelling and humor, we are forced to think about the consequences of seduction by bad boys, as well as hero worship and who deserves it. Those are important things to think about these days.
“Playboy of the Western World” continues through Feb. 2 at The Rogue Theatre, 300 E. University Blvd. Tickets are $47 at theroguetheatre.org or by calling 520-551-2053.
The play runs about two hours and 20 minutes, with one intermission. Please contact the theater for more information.
