Gates of Gold and a Gate to Yeats

Surprisingly, Frank McGuinness' Gates of Gold at the 59 E 59 Theatre was a disappointment. The playwright who brought us the wonderful Someone Who'll Watch Over Me, this time offers us a play with only one compelling character. When the wonderful Martin Raynor as Gabriel isn't speaking, nothing is happening in Mr. McGuinness' play. 

Gabriel is the fictionalized Micheál MacLiammóir, one of Irish theatre's most colorful characters. He out-Oscared Wilde and at the same time founded Dublin's other prestigious theatre - The Gate.  Gates of Gold, directed by Kent Paul, is the scene of Gabriel's deathbed, surrounded by Gabriel's partner @ the Gate and in life, Conrad (Charles Shaw Robinson), based upon the real-life Hilton Edwards. There is also a pragmatic (and problematic to the play) nurse, Kassie (Diane Ciesla). Gabriel's sister is played by Third Rock's Kathleen McNenny, and she gives it such a gallant effort to make the character alive. She's a professional poker player! She snorts coke! She has a son who sleeps with everyone! These things unto themselves do not a character make.

Finally, Gabriel's nephew, Ryan, lover to Conrad (yes, the family is complicated) is the beautiful Sean Numrich. Mr. Numrich (pictured below) is so handsome that he got to play Dakin in L.A.'s The History Boys. And that is saying something!!

What is not a disappointment is the Irish Rep's ambitious month! April is not the cruelest month. A month of Yeats! Go raibh maith agat!