Ballyturk proves a hit with New York critics

Enda Walsh’s play, Ballyturk, has wowed critics in New York where it received its US premiere this week. The co-production with Galway International Arts Festival and Landmark Theatre had its world premiere at the 2014 Arts Festival and went on to open The Abbey Theatre’s new season in Dublin last March.

The reaction to Ballyturk in the US has been terrific, with The New York Times describing Enda Walsh as a ‘dramatist of ferociously specific imagination’.

Its reviewer Ben Brantley calls the play ‘pure poetry’, and an ‘enigmatic cosmic farce’ that is likely to ‘take up residence in your thoughts after you’ve seen it’.The production possesses ‘madcap stagecraft and verbal fireworks’, according to Mr Brantley who praises actors Mikel Murfi and Tadhg Murphy for their ‘jaw-dropping virtuosity’, and Olwen Fouéré for having ‘the silken swagger of a film-noir villain’.

The New York Times also selected Ballyturk as one of the Top Five shows to see in New York in January.

Time Out New York’s edition also ran a fantastic review of Ballyturk, describing it as a ‘smashing play’ and praising the actors’ ‘mesmerizing portrayals’.

The play opened at St Ann’s Warehouse in New York this week, having previewed at the venue last week. Among those who have seen Ballyturk there already are James Bond producer Barbara Broccoli; producer at the National Theatre of Scotland Eileen O’Reilly; Culture Ireland’s director Christine Sisk and the new Irish Consul General of New York Ciaran Madden.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.