NEW YORK—In Teresa Deevy’s “Katie Roche,” Katie (Wrenn Schmidt), who is of dubious parentage (her father is unknown), works as a servant in the modest home of warmhearted Amelia Gregg (Margaret Daly) in a small town not far from Dublin, Ireland.
Although Katie suffers from her background and feels others may be trying to “put her down,” she always maintains her pride and, in fact, alternates between pride and humility. Being attractive and lively, Katie has caught the eye of a local, Michael Maguire (Jon Fletcher), for whom she has mixed feelings.
Katie has also caught the attention of Amelia’s older brother, Stanislaus (Patrick Fitzgerald), who visits frequently from his home in Dublin, where he works as an architect.
Katie, both intrigued and intimidated by Stanislaus, ultimately marries him. But their path is not a smooth one. Stan is more often in Dublin, leaving Katie with Amelia in Lower Ballycar, where Katie is often tempted to participate in the activities of the younger group in town, which includes Michael.
Further, Katie often feels used by Stan, who orders her about more as a possession than as a person with her own needs and desires.
More conflict comes in the person of Margaret Drybone (Fiana Toibin), Stan and Amelia’s married sister, who obviously disapproves of Katie. Then there is the mysterious Reuben (Jamie Jackson), who is thought to have healing powers, and who has his own opinions of Katie.
Stan, who later admits he may be too harsh on his young wife, ultimately resolves their problems, although not in a manner entirely to Katie’s liking. The play’s end signals ambiguity and possible future struggle for this young woman who seeks to be recognized for herself, in the pre-women’s lib world of 1936, in Ireland.
Playwright Teresa Deevy is a remarkable figure in Irish theater literature. Although she became deaf at the age of 20, she managed to write a number of unusual and compelling plays, several of which were produced by Ireland’s famed national theater, the Abbey.
Deevy’s plays are noted for their understanding of the complexity of the relationships between men and women and their sometimes intrinsic conflicts and power struggles. They arguably illustrate Deevy’s own struggles in a man’s world. However, she enjoyed major successes in Dublin in the years from 1930 to 1936.
The Mint Theater Company, under the stewardship of producing artistic director Jonathan Bank, whose mission is to find and revive worthwhile forgotten plays, performs a wonderful service in again bringing to light a major playwright who might have sunk into obscurity.
The current production, directed by Mr. Bank (who has also directed two other Deevy works: “Wife to James Whelan” and “Temporal Powers”), does full justice to Deevy’s “Katie Roche.”
Wrenn Schmidt gives a remarkable portrayal in the title role, exhibiting subtle quicksilver changes in mood and intention. Patrick Fitzgerald effectively supplies both sternness and a bit of mystery as Stanislaus. Others in the cast offer fine support and ensemble playing.
Supplying excellent production values are set designer Vicki R. Davis’s homey depiction of a rural living room and Martha Hally’s authentic costumes.
“Katie Roche”
Mint Theater Company
311 West 43rd Street
Tickets: 866-811-4111 or visit www.minttheater.org
Running Time: 2 hours, 25 minutes
Closes: March 31
Diana Barth writes and publishes New Millennium, an arts publication. For information: [email protected].
