Stage West Presents the Area Premiere of Conor McPherson's The Seafarer Through Feb. 22

It's Christmas Eve and James "Sharky" Harkin has returned to Dublin, to look after his irascible, aging brother Richard, who's recently gone blind in an accident. Old drinking buddy Ivan Curry has slept over from the night before, reluctant to face his wife, and now Nicky Giblin, a former friend who has taken up with Sharky's ex-wife, is set to join them for some cards and drinks. But Nicky brings with him a guest, the enigmatic Mr. Lockhart. And what should have been a predictable evening takes a sharp and unexpected turn, as the stakes in the game are raised to a startling level-especially for Sharky.

Master Irish tale-spinner Conor McPherson pulls us inexorably into a story full of twists and humor, with just a whiff of the supernatural, as Stage West presents the area premiere of The Seafarer, which previews on Thursday, January 29 and runs through Sunday, February 22 at 821 W. Vickery Blvd. in Fort Worth.

Your browser may not support display of this image.Writing for the New York Times, Ben Brantley called The Seafarer "a thinking-person's alternative to ‘It's a Wonderful Life' as a flagon of Christmas cheer," citing "the liveliest, funniest dialogue yet written by Mr. McPherson." Michael Billington (The Guardian) adds "McPherson proves yet again he is both a born yarn-spinner and an acute analyst of melancholy Irish manhood."

Conor McPherson was born in Dublin in 1971. He attended the University College in Dublin where he began to write and direct. His plays include Rum & Vodka, The Good Thief, This Lime Tree Bower, St Nicholas, The Weir (Olivier Award, Best Play), Dublin Carol, Port Authority, Shining City (Tony Award nomination, Best Play) and The Seafarer. Film work includes I Went Down, Saltwater, Samuel Beckett's Endgame and The Actors. Other awards include the George Devine Award; Critics' Circle Award; Evening Standard Award; Meyer Whitworth Award; Stewart Parker Award; two Irish Film & Television Academy Best Screenplay Awards; CICAE Best Film Award, Berlin Film Festival (Saltwater); Best Film and Best Screenplay Awards, San Sebastian Film Festival (I Went Down).

This will mark Stage West's fourth outing with Mr. McPherson, having previously produced his The Weir, St. Nicholas, and Port Authority.

The Seafarer will be directed by acclaimed Dallas director René Moreno, noted for 2008 productions of Edmond at Second Thought Theatre and A Streetcar Named Desire and Closer Than Ever at Contemporary Theatre of Dallas, among others. Jerry Russell and Jim Covault will be featured as Mr. Lockhart and Richard Harkin respectively, with Matthew Stephen Tompkins, most recently seen at the Harold Clurman Theater in New York as Nelson Algren in Transatlantic Liaison, as Sharky. Chuck Huber, whose Stage West credits include Rough Crossing, The Herbal Bed, and Dancing at Lughnasa, will play Ivan, while Chris Hauge, seen in Stage West's Serious Money and The Boys Next Door, will play Nicky.

The set will be designed by Jim Covault, and costumes are by Covault and Peggy Kruger-O'Brien. Lighting will be provided by resident lighting designer Michael O'Brien, and Lynn Lovett will handle props and set decor.

Note: this play contains some strong language. Estimated run time: 2 hours, 20 minutes.

The Seafarer will preview Thursday, January 29 at 7:30 and Friday, January 30 at 8:00, and will run through Sunday, February 22. Performance times will be Thursday evenings at 7:30, Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:00, with Sunday matinees at 3:00. The opening night reception will be Saturday, January 31. Ticket prices range from $24 to $28, with discounts for students and seniors. Preview tickets are priced at only $15. Pay What You Can performances will be Sunday, February 1 and Thursday, February 5. Food service is available 90 minutes prior to performances (reservations recommended), and information is available through the Box Office, or on the website, www.stagewest.org.