Birthright by T. C. Murray. The Finborough Theatre, 118 Finborough Road, London SW10 to 30th September 2023.

4****: William Russell

Set on a rural farm in Cork in 1910 this was T.C. Murray’s second play and his debut at the Abbey Theatre. It is a powerful piece only 75 minutes long about sibling rivalry as two brothers, the elder sees the farm as his birthright, while the younger one toils dutifully under their bad tempered father who wants it to go to him. Director Scott Hurran has allowed his cast to pull out all the stops and when things are resolved there occurs one of the most violent scenes ever to grace the Finborough stage. The Irish accents did present some problems early on for me but once my ear became accustomed all was well. The problem about that is Murray uses a conversation between Bat Morrisey, the farmer, and a visitor to set the scene for what is to follow. It did become clear but it took me alittle time. But there is no getting away from the fact this final addition to the series of rediscovered plays the ever resourceful Finborough is staging is well worth anybody’s while. Bat (Padraigh Lynch seething with rage) has decided, as he confides to visiting neighbour DanHagerty (Aidan McGleenan) that his elder son, local hero, shinty player and all round charmer Hugh (Thomas Fitzgerald every inch the glamour boy) is not fit to inherit the farm which should go to his younger son Shane (Peter Broderick seemingly placid but concealing depths of passion) . Bat wants Hugh to emigrate to America instead of Shane. Meanwhile mother Maura (Rosie Armstrong), who tries to keep the peace in a household fraught with passions, clearly sees her elder charismatic son as the one who needs the most protection. It is a potent situation apparently inspired by the story of Jacob and Esau. Something is going to give – and duly does.

Fitzgerald creates a sparkling Hugh, the golden boy of the town – he is far better dressed than his brother for a start – who comes home from winning some local derby bringing a gold medal. Meanwhile Shane has had to shoot their work horse which, scared by the town celebrations, had broken her leg. When his turn comes Shane, up until then a muted figure, erupts. Maybe too much is packed into too short a space of time - there is an awful lot of lighting of candles going on for a start – but Birthright deserves its place in the season and makes clear there are more Irish dramatists with plays needing performed than Synge or O’Casey. Rosie Armstrong tends to get overwhelmed by all the testosterone flooding her kitchen but still manages to create a warm, loving figure who cares for both boys but knows that the weaker of the two is the local hero and not the family drudge. As so often with the Finborough there is a set to marvel at and Raphaella Philcox has created a suberb bothy kitchen to match the best of the past while for that climactic fraternal confrontation fight arranger Dimitris Kafataris has staged something outstanding.

Cast

Padraig Lynch - Bat Morrissey.

Rosie Armstrong – Maura Morrissey.

Aidan McGleenan – Dan Hegarty.

Peter Broderick – Shane Morrissey

Thomas Fitzgerald – Hugh Morrissey.

Creatives

Director – Scott Hurran.

Set & Costume Designer – Raphaella Philcox.

Lighting Designer – Catja Hamilton.

Sound Designer – Chris Warner.

Fight Director – Dimitris Kafataris.

Production photographs – Craig Fuller.