Ulster American

David Ireland’s award-winning Ulster American, first seen in Adelaide in the 2019 Adelaide Arts Festival, is one of the most brilliant, provocative, and thrilling plays so far in the 21^st century. It is partly based on a ye olde joke, the one involving, ‘There was an American, an Englishman, and an Irishman, etc’.

In a room somewhere in London, Leigh, a successful British director and producer, is with Jay, an ageing Academy Award winning American actor. They are meeting because rehearsals are about to commence for an already sold-out production of a play, featuring Jay, and produced and directed by Leigh, by Northern Ireland female playwright, Ruth. This is a conversation between an alpha male and beta male is both shocking and extremely funny. They discuss the play, themselves, as well as women and the subject of rape. What is revealed in this power-play conversation is that their attitude towards women is patronising and offensive – both are at fault. Into this room comes Ruth, who is initially ‘star-struck’ by Jay and enthusiastic about the up-coming production of her play. However, this initial seemingly harmonious collaboration between these three passionate creatives soon dissolves into frenzied hostilities.

Several issues are raised, including the power of the theatre, religion, nationality, identity, cut through with issues of loyalty and betrayal. Ruth, however, is the primary catalyst for the ensuing battle. Contrary to expectations, Ruth is an arch conservative Northern Ireland Protestant who, through her play as well as in person, sanctions the murder of innocent people. The ethical, moral, and artistic debate between the three characters is like being in an insane tennis-match, full of acerbic wit, often breath-taking in its audacity. While not wishing to give away too many spoilers, the outcome of these hostilities is a blood bath, which judging by the reaction of the audience in which I sat, the support for Ruth’s violent revenge was loudly cheered and supported. Any moment, I thought, we are going to hear ‘The Cell-Block Tango’ from Chicago - ‘They had it coming! They had it coming!’.

Having seen the 2019 original production from the Traverse Theatre, Scotland, and loving this play, I was looking forward to seeing what director Joh Hartog would do. I wasn’t disappointed. That this production seems to favour Ruth, which the original production did not, only confirmed my already high opinion of Ulster American. It is a great piece of modern theatre that can be interpreted in more than one way. Excellent.

Ulster American is a 100-minute roller-coaster that is actor-centric. The actors in this production, Brendan Cooney (Jay), Scott Nell (Leigh), and Cheryl Douglas (Ruth), are all terrific. As a tight ensemble, they are completely engaging, delivering their respective savage lines and actions with great authority. Joh Hartog is to be congratulated for not only offering a new interpretation of Ulster American but also in guiding his three actors in delivering performances of thrilling clarity, passion, and power.             

If you wish to see some great theatre, at affordable prices, then go see JH Production’s Ulster American. Highly recommended. 4 Stars!

Tony Knight