CHESTER – Chester Theatre Company will open its 21st Season with Molly Sweeney, Brian Friel’s powerful exploration of the many meanings of blindness. Friel, widely recognized as Ireland's greatest living playwright, brings his unique brand of eloquence and warmth to the journey of three people on their way to an unexpected and poignant conclusion. The New York Post hailed Molly Sweeney as “Beautiful and dazzling", The New York Times concurred, “Mr. Friel writes like a dream." Performances run June 30 to July 11.

 

Molly Sweeney is based on a case study, “To See and Not See” from An Anthropologist On Mars: Seven Paradoxical Tales by Oliver Sacks, the eminent neurologist best known for his book Awakenings: The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat. The case study deals with a man named Virgil whose sight is restored, but who has to “learn” to see.

 

Friels’s play revolves around Molly, who was born sighted, but lost her sight in infancy. She undergoes an operation to restore her sight and is immediately confronted by an alien, marvelous and overwhelming world. Her husband, Frank, a dreamer and crusader, has his own reasons for encouraging her to risk the operation. As does Dr. Rice, who is trying to recapture the brilliance that once made him an internationally famous eye surgeon. As their stories interweave, a striking, engaging and deeply human tapestry is created that is both compelling and touching.

 

“Blindness is such an ongoing theme in drama” according to CTC Artistic Director Byam Stevens, “from Oedipus Rex to The Miracle Worker. And not just on the literal basis, but on the metaphorical level -- what is that we all are blind to, refuse to see, are incapable of seeing? In Molly Sweeney, we discover that sight is not just a function of the eye, it’s an interpretive function of the brain learned from infancy. Our prejudices are also challenged, as we see how the world of the sightless can be rich and fulfilling beyond our imagination.”

 

Brian Friel’s most noted plays include: PHILADELPHIA, HERE I COME! (1964), ARISTOCRATS (1979), FAITH HEALER (1979), TRANSLATIONS (1980) and  DANCING AT LUGHNASA (1990).

 

Michael Dowling will direct. The cast features Rebecca Brooksher as Molly, Chad Hoeppner as Frank and Kevin Hogan as Dr. Rice. Set Design by David Towlun, Lighting Design by Lara Dubin, Costume Design by Arthur Oliver. Sound Design by James McNamara.

 

Director Michael Dowling, a Berkshire County native, has directed four previous CTC productions: THE DRAWER BOY, THE PAVILION, BOSTON MARRIAGE and ROUNDING THIRD. He wrote and co-directed the short film SPECK'S LAST which was recently screened at the Berkshire International Film Festival. All part of a very a busy summer which will see his latest full length play, TAMARACK HOUSE, presented at the Berkshire Playwrights Lab on July 14th at the Mahaiwe Theater in Great Barrington.

 

Rebecca Brooksher (Molly Sweeney) is also no stranger to Western Massachusetts. She is returning for her third production at CTC (where she received her Equity card), having appeared in BLACKBIRD and THE NINA VARIATIONS. Other Berkshire credits include SICK at The Berkshire Theatre Festival and PRIVATE LIVES at Barrington Stage Company.  She received a Lucille Lortel nomination for Best Actress for her role in the Lincoln Center Theater production of DYING CITY, and has appeared regionally in Terrence McNally’s GOLDEN AGE at The Kennedy Center, and SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER and TWELFTH NIGHT at The McCarter Theatre,

Chad Hoeppner (Frank Sweeney) has two Broadway credits, COME BACK LITTLE SHEBA and BUTLEY.  Off-Broadway audiences have seen him in THE GLASS CAGE (The Mint Theater), RICHARD III (Classic Stage Company), THE THREE MUSKETEERS and MACBETH (The Acting Company), and AS YOU LIKE IT (New York Shakespeare Festival).

 

Kevin Hogan has appeared on Broadway with Holly Hunter (IMPOSSIBLE MARRIAGE by Beth Henley),  Off-Broadway, and regionally at the Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington D.C.(DESIGN FOR LIVING directed. by Michael Kahn); Cleveland Playhouse (THE DINNER PARTY); The McCarter Theater and Seattle Rep (DESIGN FOR LIVING directed by Stephen Wadsworth) and Hartford Theatreworks (THE GOAT directed by Rob Ruggiero).

 

Tickets are available on CTC’s website: or by calling 1-800-595-4TIX. To receive a brochure, contact the CTC box office at 413-354-7771. Performances are Wednesday through Saturday at 8:00pm, with matinees Thursday and Sunday at 2:00pm. Tickets are $28-$33; group rates are available. For further information visit CTC’s website at: .

CTC performances are supported, in part, by funds from Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency, and the Local Cultural Councils of Blandford, Chester, Huntington, Middlefield, Montgomery, Russell, Westfield, and Worthington.

 

 

Production Photos taken by Rick Teller: