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Dolly West’s Kitchen
By Frank McGuinness
Directed by Kimberly Senior
At Timeline Theatre
615 W. Wellington
Chicago, IL
773-281-8463, tickets $25 - $30
Wednesdays & Thursdays at 7:30 pm
Fridays at 8 pm
Saturdays at 4 & 8 pm
Sundays at 2 pm
Running time is 2 hours. 10 minutes with intermission
Through March 22, 2008
Passionate kitchen sink Irish comedy winning entertainment
Timeline Theatre loves to mount plays with historical significance and Frank McGuinness’ Dolly West’s Kitchen is set in Ireland during World War II. Set in County Donegal near the border with Northern Ireland, McGuinness’ comedy of manners deals with personal, sexual, family and national identity. It cleverly covers the Irish concept that love never seems to workout for any of the participants. McGuinness combines traditional Irish storytelling laced with edgy self-deprecating Irish humor to offer a funny and poignant look at personal insecurities.
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Dolly West (Kat McDonnell) has returned to Buncrana, County Donegal from Italy as Mussolini’s fascists drove her out. The kitchen of the large West home is the social meeting place for the clan. Brother Justin (Niall McGinty) and married sister Esther (Danica Ivancevic) inhabit the house with the blunt, satirical matriarch Rima (the fabulous Kathleen Ruhl). We see how Dolly and Esther don’t get along and how their young maid Anna (Sara Hoyer) desires male company. As Donegal is in the far northwest corner of Ireland on the coast, British and American military forces want to secure it form Hitler’s forces. Justin West and Ned Horgan (Mark Richard), Esther’s husband, are in the Irish army.
Tension arises when the hard drinking Rima brings home two American Army officers and Dolly’s old flame, Alec Redding (Cliff Chamberlain) take over Dolly’s kitchen. Jamie O’Brien (Aaron Golden) and his fellow U.S. Army officer Marc Delavicario (Joshua Rollins) love Irish folks; Alec wants to rekindle his old romance with Dolly while Justin is the Irish nationalist who hates the British and resents the Americans. He pushes Ireland’s neutrality to its limits.
The first act scene with all the characters having a drink around the kitchen table finds Rima telling stories and engaging in punning, word play and slagging (good-natured mockery aimed at one person). This teasing can be blunt and attacking. McGuinness has Rima poke fun at everyone including herself. These scenes are a hoot—witty, biting and direct. This Chekhovian style setting uses humor to cover the insecurities and passions that speak to unfulfilled love and sexual desires. Delavicario is an openly gay Army officer who senses Justin’s closeted rage while Alex is a bisexual Brit and Esther hates her husband Ned and cheats with anyone she can; Anna simply wants a man. Dolly still cares about Alec but seems content to run the West’s household.
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Lingering just under the surface is the fear and uncertainty of the war and how each will survive its consequence. Who will die and what will happen to Ireland and the West’s family? McGuinness has structured a funny story filled with terrific characters led by Kathleen Ruhl’s bluntly honest Irish matriarch, Rima. Each person’s struggle for identity and love in the shadow of war is presented passionately and truthfully.
The production presents rich distinct Donegal brogues and an easy flowing pace. If only Cliff Chamberlain could enhance his weak British accent, the production would fly. Brian Sidney Bembridge’s terrific set aptly depicts a rural Irish cottage complete with a garden and a stony beach. Dolly West’s Kitchen combines stinging humor and romance told in traditional Irish storytelling style. You’ll enjoy the truthful story.
Highly Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
Date Reviewed: January 26, 2008
Jeff Recommended
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