INTERVIEW: Kimberly Doreen Burns keeps returning to Irish Rep every Christmas
Photo: A Child’s Christmas in Wales has a cast that features Kimberly Doreen Burns. Photo courtesy of Irish Rep / Provided by official email.
For actor Kimberly Doreen Burns, Christmas and the Irish Repertory Theatre go hand in hand. The accomplished performer has twice appeared in the off-Broadway company’s production of The Dead, 1904, which is a unique theatrical-dining experience adapted from James Joyce’s classic Christmas tale. One would expect Burns to perform in The Dead again this year for its much-anticipated return to New York City, but she actually can be found in the Irish Rep’s other Christmas-themed show: A Child’s Christmas in Wales, adapted by Charlotte Moore from the Dylan Thomas story.
In the show, actors bring to life wonderfully moving stories of Christmas cheer, all while enjoying some holiday tunes. The 75-minute yuletide yarn continues at the Irish Rep through Dec. 29. Moore, the artistic director of the Irish Rep, not only adapted the piece; she also directs the show each time it’s mounted. This year’s production marks the seventh time Wales has appeared on their stage.
“This is my first time performing in it, and it’s been an absolute joy from the very beginning,” Burns said in a recent phone interview. “I have done four productions with the Irish Rep before. I did the revival of Finian’s Rainbow back in 2017, and then I did two different productions of The Dead, which they’re also producing right now. I just got a surprise, wonderful offer out of the blue from Miss Charlotte Moore to ask me to join the cast of this show this year.”
Burns said the Irish Rep is a loyal company, and they remember the many actors who have graced their stage. That’s why she keeps being asked to return, which is especially gratifying with a piece as moving as A Child’s Christmas in Wales.
“I think Charlotte Moore’s adaptation is just absolutely brilliant,” she said. “There are so many things that I like about the show. First and foremost, the language and the poetry are so beautiful, how it paints all of these images for what a Christmas looks like through a child’s eyes and all the things that they remember from their family’s traditions that day — the food that his parents served, the relatives that would come over to visit, the gifts that he would get. Because it paints such a vivid picture of what the fantasy of Christmas feels like for a child, it certainly connects with everybody in the audience, and I think that helps them remember their Christmases as a child. It certainly helps me remember mine as well, just how magical it all was at that age.”
The music of the piece also helps keep the mood festive and transports the audience (and the cast) to the time of Thomas’ upbringing in Wales. “I think adding music to the story really, really ties it all together,” Burns said. “The music is so beautiful, has lots of wonderful imagery. There are songs about the Christmas snow, and there are songs about Christmas desserts and relatives. There’s a song about aunts and uncles coming to dinner every year, and there’s certainly a couple of carols that address the religious aspect of Christmas, too. And I think that helps get everyone in the spirit of the holiday.”
Burns is a self-described Christmas lover. When the calendar changes over to October, she is ready for everything the fall and winter have to offer. She loves pumpkin spice and festive decorations, and for her, performing in a Christmas-themed show is a dream come true.
“I don’t think there’s ever a downside to working in this business,” she said. “The business is so competitive year-round, and I’ve been in the business for a number of years. Anytime I can get a gig, I’m extremely grateful, and I actually think that because I’ve worked several Christmases with the Irish Rep, it’s a magical time of year to be working in New York City because New York is so festive during Christmas. And to be a part of that magic that all the tourists come to see — maybe they’ll go see the Rockefeller Christmas tree, and maybe they’ll come down and see our show. So, I love being a part of it. No, there is no downside in my eyes.”
Throughout the evening, Burns and her fellow actors play a variety of characters, but the one that comes through the most profoundly is that of Thomas’ mother. Burns takes this part quite seriously because Thomas, one of most beloved poets of his generation, had a particular admiration for his mother.
“He speaks very positively about his mom,” Burns said. “He doesn’t ever say anything negative about her, so he always says she tells these wonderful ghost stories and makes these beautiful dishes every Christmas and keeps tradition alive. I do have some experience playing some motherly roles in my career, so I approach it from a very wholesome, loving aspect because I think he loved his mom very much.”
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
A Child’s Christmas in Wales, featuring Kimberly Doreen Burns, continues through Dec. 29 at the Irish Repertory Theatre in Manhattan. Click here for more information and tickets.
