Greater Boston Stage Company's "An Irish Carol": A Poignant Tale

Refrain from dark shadows and make light of the present.

Greater Boston Stage Company opens its doors to “An Irish Carol,” written by Matthew Keenan. Set in an Irish pub, the owner, David, is a sour, lonely man who remains bitter about past events. On Christmas Eve, pub attendees and ghosts from David’s past remind him to stay present and rediscover humanity.

If every adaptation of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” walked into a bar, it would be crowded with spirits and humbugs. On a snowy outing, I attended Greater Boston Stage Company’s “An Irish Carol,” while drinking hot chocolate and eating freshly baked cookies. The show is a poignant, funny, and sincere telling of making amends for past mistakes.

A team of spectacular actors set the stage for “An Irish Carol.” The Irish accents are authentic and consistent from everyone. Every actor delivers a splendid performance, creating distinct personalities, relationships with one another, and awareness of the tone.

At the center of the story is David (Robert Walshe), who enters the scene, stomping his feet on the doormat to rid the snow, followed by muttering his annoyance at the cold. With the snowy weather outside the theater that day, audiences could relate.

David is a bitter man and withdrawn from the world due to unresolved pain. Robert Walshe does an outstanding job in his performance. There’s so much more to this broken man, and Walshe adds subtle layers. His reading of the letter is a signature scene, using only body language in its duration. Walshe’s gradual transformation of the character is profound.

My favorite type of intros are when characters enter scenes one by one because we immediately get the sense of who is the cheery one, whose down to business, or aloof.

Jim (Ross MacDonald) merrily enters the bar singing Irish tunes. And then there’s Frank (Richard Snee), who may seem detached, but he adds important advice. Snee is comical, but his quiet performance where he is observing a serious conversation is compelling.

Bartek is played with sincerity, loyalty, and kindness by Alex Deroo. He is David’s faithful bartender, who never issues complaints and steers negative conversations from his boss. We all need people like Bartek who remain devoted.

Much like “A Christmas Carol,” certain character represents a different spirit. Michael (Alex M. Jacobs) and Richard (Paul Valley) reflect on David’s past. Simon (Alex Leondedis) and Anna (Julia Hertzberg) express future opportunities.

As soon as I walked into the theater, I was amazed by the incredible life-like bar setting created by Saskia Martinez. I was impressed by the level of detail, from the beautifully constructed bar, shelves lined with bottles, stools, tables, and a window where snow gently falls outside.

The Irish pub setting fully immerses audiences in this world. They say a bar makes a great place for a therapy session. You always meet interesting people, and you never know what conversations you’ll have.

Weylin Symes’ direction on “Irish Carol” is personal and grounding. Symes has a fondness for “A Christmas Carol,” and he describes working on this show as joyful. He truly manifests the holiday spirit and the show’s moral.

The final scene, which lasts a little over a minute, beautifully cements the message. Bad things will happen in life. However, it’s up to you how to move forward. You don’t have to erase the past, but continue to enjoy life in the present, and think about how the future will impact you.

“An Irish Carol” is a moving, heartfelt, and witty show that brought holiday cheer to audiences. Get tickets for this refreshing take on a holiday classic at Greater Boston Stage Company, ending on Sunday, Dec. 21.