INTERVIEW: ‘Little Gem’ shines at Irish Rep
Photo: Lauren O’Leary stars in Little Gem, now playing the Irish Repertory Theatre in New York City. Photo courtesy of Carole Rosegg / Provided by Matt Ross PR with permission.
Little Gem, the three-person play by Elaine Murphy, has returned to New York City after its celebrated run a number of years ago. The Irish Repertory Theatre production, which has been extended through Sept. 8, follows three women in northern Dublin, representing different generations and perspectives on life, love and loss.
The show originated at the Dublin Fringe Festival in 2008, taking home the Fishamble New Writing Award. After transferring to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Little Gem won the prestigious Carol Tambor Best of Edinburgh Award, which meant it received an off-Broadway premiere at the Flea Theater in New York City.
Irish Rep has smartly brought it back to the Big Apple in a new production, under the direction of Marc Atkinson Borrull, and audiences and critics have fallen in love all over again. The show is a series of monologues featuring each of the three characters, and they offer audiences equal doses of hurt and humor throughout the evening.
Recently Hollywood Soapbox exchanged emails with Lauren O’Leary, who plays Amber. She stars in the piece with Brenda Meaney (Lorraine) and Marsha Mason (Kay). Questions and answers have been slightly edited for style.
What did you like about Little Gem when you first read the play?
I liked its sense of humour. It opens with the character I play, Amber, growing more frustrated as her mum and grandmother fuss over her on the big night of her Debs (like the prom). I related to that and the depths to which the play goes and the themes it explores: family, shame, love, isolation, sexuality and death and how that relates to this Irish family. And it really is very funny.
How do you approach the character of Amber?
Well, my first way in was the accent because it’s specific and different to mine, paired with the language of the text. The North Dublin slang was helpful because it’s different to some of my own terminology, and lastly there was a girl in my class in school who literally was Amber. So I would think to myself, ‘how would she say this or react to that,’ so I always felt like I really knew her.
What’s it like working with Brenda Meaney and Marsha Mason?
A dream. The best. Wonderful. They are hilarious, intelligent, creative and kind women. We are usually either cracking up laughing in the dressing room or sharing our life stories, which has really helped us to form our relationship onstage.
When did you realize you wanted to be an actor?
When I realised I could make people laugh.
What’s it like working at the Irish Repertory Theatre?
Great. It’s like a little family in there. I feel like I’ve known Ciarán [O’Reilly] and Charlotte [Moore] (the founders) for years. It’s a wonderful stage. And they’ve had such great plays and performers there, so I do feel very lucky! And the audiences are fabulous, so what more could you ask for?
Why do you think Ireland has produced so many great playwrights and actors over the years?
I think Irish people are very honest and are adverse to insincerity (I want to say B.S but I’m probably not allowed). Our actors and writers often explore this honesty through the lens of humour because most of the time Irish people will tell you the truth by laughing about it, which is very human. That’s something that happens frequently with Little Gem; it opens you up with laughter and gets you in the more emotional moments. I always think of that quote that goes something like, ‘I’m only serious when I’m laughing.’ That, for me, sums up what it is to be Irish.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Little Gem, starring Lauren O’Leary, Martha Mason and Brenda Meaney, is currently running at the Irish Repertory Theatre’s Francis J. Greenburger Mainstage in New York City. Click here for more information and tickets.
