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REVIEWS

THE SHAPE OF METAL
by Thomas Kilroy
directed by Brian Murray

ROBERTA MAXWELL IS SO MAGNIFICENT as an aged sculptor in The Shape of Metal …her voice remains fierce as she goes into verbal battle with her angry daughter Judith, THE EQUALLY POWERFUL JULIA GIBSON…..there are terrific contributions to the production, including Lex Liang’s set design.
- The New York Times

RICH THOUGHTFUL AND ACHINGLY HUMAN..another gem in Kilroy’s portfolio
- The Irish Sunday Times

Kilroys The Shape of Metal is A FASCINATING PLAY
- TheatreScene.net

FASCINATING, STIMULATING AND DISTURBING…beautifully constructed
- The Irish Sunday Independent

ROBERTA MAXWELL GIVES A TOUR DE FORCE PERFORMANCE, director Brain Murray also obtains excellent performances from Julia Gibson and Molly Ward
- TheatreScene.net

Brian Murray has worked with Roberta Maxwell four times their familiarity with each other no doubt contributes to the INTIMATE UNFORCED MASTERY of her performance.
- Backstage

To be successful in the theatre world sometimes all you need is one breakout role, one show stopping number…..SUPERIOR TALENT ROBERTA MAXWELL.
- The Washington Square News

The Shape of Metal is AN ARTICULATE BUT FAMILIAR EXPLORATION OF A MONTHER AND DAUGHTER relationship…one senses the mother could have taken on Jackson Pollock in an arm wrestle and won.
- Backstage

THEATRE LEGEND BRIAN MURRAY DIRECTS STRONG PERFORMANCES
- Nytheatre.com

 


TROUSERS
by Paul Meade and David Parnel

"A THROUGHLY ENJOYABLE EVENING! Performed with precision and polish, Trousers offers a delightful, uninterrupted 80 minutes of professional theatre! Splendid performances by Gary Gregg and Daniel Freedom Stewart... the chemistry between the two is seamless"
-Jo Ann Rosen, NYTheatre.com

"TROUSERS SET ME THINKING , WHICH IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THEATRE CAN HOPE TO DO , The two actors play their roles quite convincing and naturalistically."
-Rob Lester, Edge New York

"TROUSERS DELIVERS, particularly when performed by actors as likable as Gary Gregg and Daniel Freedom Stewart!"
-Joseph Hurley, Irish Echo


CLOCKS AND WHISTLES
by Samuel Adamson
directed by Talya Klein

"'THE HISTORY BOYS' ISNT THE ONLY GREAT
BRITISH IMPORT THIS SEASON!"
-New York Magazine

"THE CAST'S ENERGY AND BRISK DIRECTION OF TALYA KLEIN PROPEL THE 20 QUICK TAKE SCENES! Meghan Andrews (who was excellent as the shy young bride in the recent "Trip to Bountiful") didn't flinch from portraying the needy, cruel Anne. Catherine Eaton was wholly believable as Caroline, a tough-talking sculptor and neighbor of Trevor. Samuel Adamson's tonal pitch for these stuck, disappointed people is near perfect!" -New York Times

"BEST BET! If you like your plays sharp, swift and bitingly funny, get tickets to Clocks and Whistles!" -New York Magazine

"RIVALS ANYTHING YOU'LL SEE ON BROADWAY OR OFF THIS SEASON! This import strikes chords of dissonance both haunting and raw! Acted fearlessly, Clocks and Whistles is darkly absorbing!" -Edge New York

"PICK OF THE WEEK! The performers make Adamson's casual dialogue crackle, turning this into a satisfying trip into 21st-century sexual coupling!" -Back Stage

"INSIGHTFUL, AMUSING AND SOMEWHAT DISTURBING! Samuel Adamson's Clocks and Whistles affords us an insightful, amusing and somewhat disturbing look into the private lives of a group of young Londoners of a decade ago! All in all, a credit to George C. Heslin and Origin Theatre Company's 2006 season!" - Irish Echo

"FUNNY AND HEARTBREAKING! A funny, heartbreaking tale of three young Londoners sorting it out artistically/sexually, informed with a lovely sense of discovery and youthful brio!" -Gay City News


CRESTFALL American Premiere
By Mark O'Rowe

Crestfall one of just five plays to receive a starred listing (highly recommended) in the New York Times, Friday Oct 14th 2005…
"three stunningly written monologues with as much sex, violence and cruelty as 10 Quentin Tarantino films… [a] speeding train of a play staged with little fuss by George C Heslin… It was almost as if Mr. O’Rowe had studied Samuel Beckett’s chiseled prose and Martin McDonagh’s outrageous violence… O’Rowe presents something truly unexpected…a picture of pure innocence."
-Jason Zinoman, The New York Times, October 10 '05

Mark O’Rowe enjoys success in his native land (Ireland) and he has even penned a Colin Farrell movie (Intermission) but his plays have been ignored by the off Broadway establishment. Instead, it’s left to Origin Theatre Company to display this glittery, blood-streaked gem… it’s we who should be sorry that his work does not get more support in America.
David Cote, Time Out, October 13 ‘05

Three actresses take the stage in Crestfall… taut performances
The New Yorker, October 24 ‘05

Survival instincts swirl together.. in Heslin’s compelling production... Fiana Toibin gives a feral portrayal of Olive... Barbara J Spence provides a veneer of chilly self righteous remove as Allison.
Andy Propst, Back Stage October 13 ‘05

..Immensely talented Mr O’Rowe…Skillfully acted, intelligently and sparingly directed..
Joseph Hurley, Irish Echo October 19 ‘05

In addition, Andy Probst of Back Stage selected Fiana Toibin's performance in Crestfall, alongside some of the best broadway talent, as on of the most memorable acting performances of 2005...

"Fiana Toibin’s simultaneously frightening and touching performance in Crestfall blended intense ferocity with innate humanity. Mining Mark O'Rowe’s abstract language for it’s musicality, Toibin used her physicality to beautifully underscore his cadences: a casual, wistful glance one moment, a blood-curdling stare paired with rigid steeliness the next.
Andy Probst, Back Stage, December 29 '05


RUNDOWN World Premiere
By Mark O Rowe

Those committed to new writing should run to see this production of
Rundown by Origin Theatre Company.
Irish Times

A vibrant arrival of a new writer in a fast paced slick production directed by George C Heslin
Sunday Independent


COMMUNION American Premiere
By Aidan Mathews

COMMUNION postcard design

A RIVETING PIECE OF THEATRE! Director M. Burke Walker has elicited uniformly fine performances from his ensemble cast. J. Kennedy gives a highly intense and intelligent portrayal of the inherently angry and frustrated Marcus. A play of great sensitivity
Diana Barth, Irish Voice

EMOTIONALLY GRIPPING! Aidan Mathews amusingly and poignantly investigates the ways in which people derive their spiritual sustenance at the cusp of the millennium. M. Burke Walker elicits sterling performances from his six-member company

Jessica Dickey & James Kennedy in COMMUNION

Andy Probst, American Theater Web

ORIGIN THEATRE IS TO BE COMMENDED FOR IT’S RISK- TAKING IN THIS FINE PRODUCTION. J Kennedy is witty and compelling, Ean Sheehy is an extraordinary aspect of this fine play
Joe Hurley, Irish Echo

Jessica Dickey & Ean Sheehy in COMMUNION

A VIBRANT PORTRAIT OF THE CHALLENGES, REWARDS, AND OCCASIONAL DETRIMENTS OF UNCONDITIONAL LOVE! ‘Communion’ is beautifully brought to life by M. Burke Walker's sensitive direction and an acting company providing a host of compelling performances. Ean Sheehy and Barbara Sims are especially convincing in their roles, particularly when performing together. Remaining dry-eyed through their final minutes together might rank as one of the season's most daunting theatrical challenges
Matthew Murray,Talkin' Broadway

Jessica Dickey & Barbara Sims in COMMUNION

THE CAST FLOURISHES under M. Burke Walker's careful direction, erudite writing, tackling of big themes
Karl Levett Backstage New York

A DARK AND CEREBRAL COMEDY OF MANNERS! Irish playwright Aidan Mathews engages the subject of illness and dying with a refreshing candor and lack of sentiment. Ably directed by M. Burke Walker, 'Communion' is the kind of work that is fun to pick apart afterward, with its latent symmetries and ironies as well as its musings on faith and God. But there are enough comic and heart-pricking scenes to save the play from feeling like a philosophy lesson.
Deirdre McFadyen, OffOffOnline

THE LOW TICKET PRICE DOES NOT REPRESENT THE VALUE OF THE CAST IN THIS FINE PLAY
Budget Broadway


MISTERMAN American Premiere Off Broadway
By Enda Walsh

MISTERMAN postcard graphics

Origin Theatre Company set a new standard in production quality and demonstrate their genuine commitment to bringing new works to the stage.
IRISH VOICE

A powerful performance knocking the audience right of their seats with every outrage and then smoothes them over with a chilling calm
SHOW BUSINESS WEEKLY

David De Becks direction makes the trip through Thomas mind an intriguing journey. The lighting and sound design by Sean Farrell and Zachary are extremely effective.
BACKSTAGE NEW YORK

Press Photo from MISTERMAN

A well paced absorbing production, with grace style and insight
IRISH ECHO

Zachary Williamson expertly layer sound design and Sean Farrell’s evocative lighting guided by De Becks skillful direction
IRISH THEATRE MAGAZING

MISTERMAN Irish Tour

The acting in Origins production of Misterman is nothing short of extraordinary
THE SUNDAY BUSINESS POST

Origins delivers a cleanly professional production under De Becks well observed direction
THE LONDON GUARDIAN

The acting is deft and fluent , superbly lit and directed
IRISH TIMES

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
George C Heslin

LITERARY MANAGER
Rebecca Nesvet

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
James Kennedy

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Cassie S Farrelly
Tina Santi Flaherty
Brendan Gilmartin
George C Heslin
John Lyons
Aisling Reidy
Antonia Reilly
Aisling Ryan

ADVISORY BOARD
Eva Brune
Robert Dunn
Sharon Fogarty
Sheenagh Gillen
Colette Morris

HONORARY PATRON
Niall Toibin

 

http://nysca.org/

http://www.cultureireland.gov.ie/

 

   

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