High Lonesome

Lonesome West is a tough play to get right, but Lantern's production is masterful.

by David Anthony Fox

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Published: Oct 2, 2007

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There's a hanging crucifix in the little Irish cottage, as well as a set of holy figurines placed in a family grouping, and a framed photo of the beloved pet dog. But it's the rifle hanging over the mantel that really sets the stage for The Lonesome West, Martin McDonagh's spellbinding black comedy, now receiving a sensational production at the Lantern.

The Connor brothers, Coleman and Valene, are poster boys for lost opportunity. Neither has a romantic partner (we hear about a few of Coleman's exes, and Coleman suggests, maybe just nastily, that Valene is gay). They're still living in the family house, and recently their dad was killed in a gun accident (Coleman at the trigger). Food and liquor are dwindling. It would appear that the only thing keeping them going is a smoldering rivalry, though this hatred is temporarily on hold in an uneasy truce (we're not clear why). Father Welsh tries to effect reconciliation, but no luck. (The sweet young priest is actually pretty ineffective in general — the murder-suicide rate among his parishioners is rising faster than Philly's.

McDonagh is a master at portraying family disintegration, and the brothers in Lonesome West (Is the title an homage to Sam Shepard's True West, with its similarly dysfunctional siblings?) are among his richest creations. There's no violence, McDonagh seems to be saying, that comes close to the venom and hurt that families inflict on each other. And the Catholic Church, when not doing active harm of its own, is hilariously powerless to stop it.

Lonesome West is a tough play to get right. It marries the traditional poetic lyricism of Irish drama with a more muscular kind of language. The lines between humor, pathos and horror are regularly crossed. And the visible bleakness of the situation can't compromise the need for high-octane performance values.

David O'Connor's production is masterful. Ross Beschler (Valene), Genevieve Perrier (Girleen) and Luigi Sottile (Father Welsh) offer fine, confident performances. But Anthony Lawton (Coleman) is more than that: This always-superb actor has hit a new high here — he's absolutely mesmerizing.

Lonesome West has already been extended, and I'm certain the run will sell out. Make sure you see this marvelous production.

(d_fox@citypaper.net)

The Lonesome West

Through Oct. 14Lantern Theater Co. at St. Stephen's Theater, 10th and Ludlow streets., 215-829-0395

 

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