INTERVIEW: Reflecting on life — with a ‘Scarecrow’ by one’s side
Photo: Aidan Redmond and Stephanie Roth Haberle star in Woman and Scarecrow at Irish Rep. Photo by Carol Rosegg / Provided by Matt Ross PR with permission.
The poster for Marina Carr’s off-Broadway play, Woman and Scarecrow, is something to behold. An upside-down crow (perhaps a raven?) molds into the back a woman lying prostrate as she stares up from her deathbed. Her hair joins with the bottom beak of the bird, making for an eerie and unsettling portrait of a woman in between two worlds.
Woman and Scarecrow, currently playing through June 24 at Irish Repertory Theatre’s W. Scott McLucas Studio Theatre, follows a woman in the final stages of her life. She’s a mother to eight children and wife to an unfaithful husband, and she is currently kept company by Scarecrow, her alter ego. Carr has crafted an interesting fable in the grand tradition of Irish plays that explore themes of death, life and pathos. Irish Rep’s co-founder Ciaran O’Reilly directs.
One of the key characters in the production is Him, played by Aidan Redmond, a veteran of Irish Rep and many other productions. He was also seen on Broadway in The Cripple of Inishmaan. Recently, Hollywood Soapbox exchanged emails with Redmond about his new role. Questions and answers have been slightly edited.
What first impressed you about the play, Woman and Scarecrow?
I think there’s a lot of humour in the play. The story revolves around ‘Woman’ and her claims on life, but the counterclaims argued by the other characters are such that the world of the play is both pathetic and believable all at once. My first impression, to be honest, was one of intrigue.
How do you see the character of Him?
It’s not my place to judge Him or see Him in any one light. As long as I play him honestly from moment to moment to the best of my ability, I can leave the rest of it to the audience. My first impression of Him upon reading the play was that he’s a man in a difficult situation, and as a man I gave him all the attributes of decency and misunderstanding I thought the character could withstand.
Now however, having lived in the world of it for a bit, I see things a little differently. Maybe he’s in love with the other ‘unseen’ woman. His love for his dying wife replaced to an extent by duty, by marriage. Maybe he’s an asshole; maybe he’s not. Maybe he loves ‘Woman’ but no longer likes her. Maybe he hates himself for it. For sure there is frustration. Each of them is as pathetic as the other. Perhaps the most he does is crack a polo mint. Is Scarecrow right, or is Woman? Or is it something else entirely? Whatever it is, it’s a testament to the quality of the writing that the character of Him can withstand more than one interpretation and still be justified within the confines of the play.
What’s so powerful and moving about Marina Carr’s writing?
I like how she develops character. The back and forth between ‘Him’ and ‘Woman’ cuts so close to the bone at times, it’s difficult not to believe the conceit. Her characters are believable because of their flaws. The struggle to be human, to understand our place in it all and the great tragic comedy that comes from that understanding!
When did you first fall in love with acting?
Acting has opened up the world to me, literally. I’m lucky to be able to pursue it. It has taught me that in life, often the most valuable reward is in the doing. It is something I learned early and try to carry with me into every project.
What’s it like to work for Irish Rep?
It’s a great experience. [Founders] Charlotte [Moore] and Ciaran [O’Reilly] have developed a theatre company that nurtures its talent like a family. The atmosphere in the building is always pleasant, and it’s an honour to perform here. The Irish Rep gave me my first off-Broadway credit when I played Michael Glavin in John B Keane’s Sive. I feel very fortunate to be asked back for this play, and I’m looking forward to sharing our work with everyone who walks through the door.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
The Irish Repertory Theatre’s production of Marina Carr’s Woman and Scarecrow continues through June 24. Click here for more information and tickets.
