INTERVIEW: Andrea Lynn Green on her new role in ‘The Butcher Boy’
Photo: Nicholas Barasch and Andrea Lynn Green star in Irish Repertory Theatre’s production of The Butcher Boy. Photo courtesy of Carol Rosegg / Provided by Matt Ross PR with permission.
Andrea Lynn Green plays the mother of the central character in the new musical The Butcher Boy, playing through Sept. 11 at the Irish Repertory Theatre in New York City. The show — with book, music and lyrics by Asher Muldoon — is based on the novel by Patrick McCabe and tells the story of Francie Brady (Nicholas Barasch) and his tale of isolation in 1960s Ireland. What transpires after the Brady family meets the Nugent family, who are new neighbors in town, is both startling and violent.
Green is no stranger to the Irish Rep, one of the most respected theatrical institutions in New York City. She previously played their stage in The Home Place, and she also appeared in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? on Broadway, among other shows. In The Butcher Boy, which is directed by Ciarán O’Reilly, Green plays Francie’s Ma, Annie Brady, an important character throughout the narrative.
Recently Hollywood Soapbox exchanged emails with Green about her new role. Questions and answers have been slightly edited for style.
What’s it like working at the Irish Rep?
It’s like being home. I like to say it’s my “home place” since the first time I worked at Irish Rep was in Brian Friel’s final play The Home Place. Irish Rep has an energy unlike any other place I’ve worked — a warmth, humor, and a love for storytelling that is pure and profound.
How would you describe your character?
I play Annie Brady, otherwise known as “Ma,” the mother of our titular butcher boy, Francie. She and Francie share a strong bond, which makes her struggles and eventual actions an important catalyst for the impending story that Francie tells. Ma has mental health struggles, exacerbated by her surrounding circumstances, such as her marriage to an abusive alcoholic. To cope, she lives in bouts of denial and fantasy. I believe Francie may have picked up that coping mechanism from his Ma.
Were you familiar with the source material?
I became familiar when preparing for the initial audition. I listened to the audiobook, read by the author Patrick McCabe, and watched the film as well. I’ve read the book multiple times. It is brilliant.
What do you think the piece says about the world?
The Butcher Boy is a surreal stream-of-consciousness portrayal of a descent into madness, helped down each rung by one tragic circumstance after another. I think it says quite powerfully that these ingredients, or any variation of them, can become the recipe for creating what we see every day in our world: unthinkable violence and horror. In the aftermath, we’re often left wondering how it could have happened. How did it get to that point? How did this person fall through the cracks? Here’s how.
How is it bringing Asher Muldoon’s songs and words to life?
It is thrilling. Asher’s music is dynamic and surprising, and his book and lyrics are full of depth and humor. There is a lot to mine there for an actor. He is a rare talent, and I’m grateful I get to perform in his stunning creation.
What was life like for you during the height of the pandemic when you were away from a live audience?
I was making my Broadway debut in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? when the pandemic hit and theatre was shut down. So, to have the rug pulled out at that exact time was quite something. I tried to keep myself busy. I dove into other kinds of work and wrote a lot. I stayed creative the entire time. I gained perspective. It means that much more to me now to be back on the New York stage in this original and daring new musical.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
The Butcher Boy, featuring Andrea Lynn Green, continues through Sept. 11 at the Irish Repertory Theatre in New York City. Click here for more information and tickets.
