When Hollywood comes to rural Ireland to film a historical epic, locals Charlie Conlon and Jake Quinn are hired as extras. As the production progresses, these two men - along with a dozen other characters portrayed by the same two actors - begin to discover the complex intersection of fantasy and reality, Hollywood dreams and rural life.
Stones in His Pockets stars Tony Award nominee Euan Morton (Broadway's Taboo) as Charlie Conlon and Fred Arsenault as Jake Quinn in this tragicomic tale about the allure of Hollywood, the resilience of rural Ireland, and the thin line between comedy and tragedy.
Synopsis
Set in a scenic spot near a small village in County Kerry, Ireland, Stones in His Pockets tells the story of Charlie Conlon and Jake Quinn, two extras on the set of a big-budget Hollywood film being shot in their rural Irish community. As they and their fellow villagers are employed as extras, the two men observe the comical and sometimes painful clash of cultures between Hollywood and rural Ireland.
When tragedy strikes the village, the glamor of the film world is stripped away, revealing the stark contrast between Hollywood fantasy and harsh reality. The play explores themes of identity, exploitation, and the resilience of community in the face of globalization, all while requiring just two actors to portray fourteen distinct characters - from the film's glamorous American star to the various locals with their own stories to tell.
About the Play
Stones in His Pockets debuted at the West Belfast Festival in 1996 and traveled to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 1999 before landing on London's West End, where it played for more than three years and was honored with the Olivier Award for Best New Comedy.
The play opened on Broadway in the spring of 2001 to similar critical acclaim and was nominated for three Tony Awards that season, including Best Play. However, the play's life in New York was short; it was one of many productions that closed in the immediate aftermath of 9/11. Despite this, Stones in His Pockets continues to be performed globally, capturing the imaginations of artists and audiences with its commentary on global citizenship and cultural identity.
Euan Morton as Charlie Conlon
Euan Morton, a Tony Award nominee for his performance as Boy George in Taboo, plays Charlie Conlon, an aspiring screenwriter who returns to Ireland after a failed attempt to make it in America. Charlie sees the film production as a potential opportunity to get his own script noticed, and his perspective on Hollywood is colored by both optimism and desperation.
Throughout the play, Morton also transforms into several other characters, including Caroline Giovanni (the American film star), Mickey (an elderly local who claims to be the last surviving extra from The Quiet Man), and various film crew members, showcasing his versatility as an actor.
The "Two-Hander" Format
What makes Stones in His Pockets unique is its format as a "two-hander" - a play performed entirely by two actors playing multiple roles. In this Yale Repertory Theatre production, Euan Morton and Fred Arsenault portray all fourteen characters, shifting between roles with minimal costume changes, instead relying on physical and vocal transformations to distinguish between characters.
This challenging theatrical device creates both comedy and poignancy as the actors rapidly switch between characters, sometimes conversing with themselves in different roles. The technique underscores the play's themes about performance and identity while showcasing the remarkable talents of both actors.
About the Playwright
Marie Jones is one of the most celebrated playwrights in contemporary Irish theatre. Her plays have been embraced for their compassionate good humor and broad appeal. Born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Jones began her career as an actress before founding the Charabanc Theatre Company in 1983 and later co-founding DubbelJoint Theatre Company.
Her work often examines the complex relationship between Ireland and external forces that shape its culture, whether British colonialism or American cultural influence. Stones in His Pockets remains her most internationally recognized work, though she has written numerous other acclaimed plays including Women on the Verge of HRT and Fly Me to the Moon.
Director Evan Yionoulis
This Yale Repertory Theatre production marks Resident Director Evan Yionoulis's twelfth production at the theatre. Her previous Yale Rep directing credits include Bossa Nova, The Master Builder, Richard II, and Galileo, among others.
Yionoulis is also a professor in Yale School of Drama's Department of Acting and has directed at numerous prestigious theaters including the Mark Taper Forum, Lincoln Center Theater, and Manhattan Theatre Club, where she received an OBIE Award for her direction of Richard Greenberg's Three Days of Rain.
Irish Context: A Pocket Guide
The play makes numerous references to Irish culture and history that enrich the narrative:
The Troubles: The period of violent conflict in Northern Ireland from 1969-1998 between Catholic Nationalists (who favored unification with the Republic of Ireland) and Protestant Unionists (who favored remaining part of the United Kingdom).
County Kerry: A county in southwestern Ireland known for its scenic landscapes, which has made it a popular filming location for international productions.
The Quiet Man: A 1952 film directed by John Ford, starring John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara, that was filmed in Ireland and represents an early example of Hollywood's romanticized vision of rural Irish life.
Reviews and Press
From James Bundy, Artistic Director of Yale Repertory Theatre (from the program's welcome note): "Stones has stayed with me in the dozen years since I first saw the play, and I am thrilled to share this new production with you here in New Haven."
Links to Articles and Reviews
Yale Repertory Theatre Official Page
Playbill.com
New York Times Review
Photos
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