21

August

Two Irish immigrant women search for love, serenity, and a place to call “home” in this impassioned, heartfelt drama.

Ronán Noone: My Journey into Eugene O'Neill's Long Day's Journey Into Night Published by New Hibernia Review

Thirst

By Ronán Noone

Directed by Courtney O'Connor

Running Time: 2 hours and 15 minutes, including an intermission.

Buy Tickets

View Program

Listen to Director Courtney O'Connor and Playwright Ronán Noone on Typecast: Boston's New Play Podcast (Episode 11)

2023/24 Season Sponsors:

Paul Kastner

G. Lee & Diana Humphrey

Production Sponsors: Mary & Doug Woodruff

Celebrating 50 Years Corporate Sponsor:

Summary

There’s a whole other story unraveling on the other side of the kitchen wall of Eugene O’Neill’s Long Day’s Journey Into Night. Two Irish immigrants including a disappointed cook whose shuttered heart only blooms when she has a bottle in her hand and a vibrant young maid who survived a trip on the Titanic pass the day amid their gloomy daily chores alongside a resilient American chauffeur with a troubled past. As tensions rise, high-spirited humor and harsh cynicism boil over as the trio confront abandoned dreams and heart-breaking misfortunes. Underneath it all, hope is not as far away as it seems.

Content Advisory: Mild expletives, alcohol use, reference to drug use, dark Irish sarcasm/humor.

* Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States

** Represented by United Scenic Artists, Local USA 829 of the IATSE

° Stage Directors and Choreographers Society

"With ‘Thirst,’ Ronán Noone quenched a desire to give an earlier work another try." Read The Boston Globe feature story HERE!

Listen to playwright, Ronán Noone on GBH's The Culture Show with Jared Bowen.

"Irish playwright depicts real and poignant immigrant experience with 'laughter and tears.'" Read The Irish Star feature story HERE!

"I have to say it’s the most gorgeous bunch I seen cast in some time. I’m expecting some heat on that stage, if I’m allowed to say that." Read more of playwright Ronán Noone’s interview with BostonIrish HERE!

"The Lyric Stage Company has staged the touching drama "THIRST" and, for those eager for great theatre, many should find this latest production invigorating."-Kevin T. Baldwin, METRmag.com

"Noone’s narrative, with lovely direction from producing artistic director Courtney O’Connor, offers a glimpse into the lives of three people making the best of their situations."-Jacquinn Sinclair, WBUR

"Janie E. Howland’s reconstruction of a 1912 kitchen is superb. Water comes out of the tap, smoke comes off the stove, the smell of bacon fills the theater. This, plus O’Connor’s limber direction, makes for a very vivid afternoon of theater."-Michele Markarian, Theater Mirror

"Noone furnishes at least some reason to believe that for his trio, it will be a long day's journey into light."-Don Aucoin, The Boston Globe

"The confines of the play’s intimate kitchen set emphasizes the claustrophobia, familial loyalty, and helplessness that emanate throughout “Thirst,” creating an emotionally gripping whirlwind from start to finish."-Kinnereth S. Din, The Harvard Crimson

"Mikayla Reid’s period costumes and Karen Perlow’s layered lighting also add to the first-rate feel of the production. Dialect coach Rebecca Gibel has also done yeoman’s work in helping achieve the believability of the accents."-R. Scott Reedy, Broadway World

"Designer Karen Perlow turns the play's stage lighting into a poetic barometer of the alternating brightening and dimming of the character's fortunes."-Jules Becker, MySouthEnd.com

"Doherty and Fitzgerald’s sweet and spicy rapport is as comical as it is bittersweet and their tendency to take things too far makes for some enthralling moments."-Jeanne Denizard, Sleepless Critic

Kate Fitzgerald and Aimee Doherty* (Photo by Mark S. Howard)

Aimee Doherty* (Photo by Mark S. Howard)

Kate Fitzgerald (Photo by Mark S. Howard)

Michael Kaye* and Aimee Doherty* (Photo by Mark S. Howard)

Kate Fitzgerald and Aimee Doherty* (Photo by Mark S. Howard)

Michael Kaye* and Aimee Doherty* (Photo by Mark S. Howard)

Aimee Doherty* and Kate Fitzgerald (Photo by Mark S. Howard)

Michael Kaye*, Kate Fitzgerald, and Aimee Doherty* (Photo by Mark S. Howard)

Aimee Doherty* (Photo by Mark S. Howard)

Michael Kaye*, Kate Fitzgerald, and Aimee Doherty* (Photo by Mark S. Howard)

Michael Kaye* and Aimee Doherty* (Photo by Mark S. Howard)

Kate Fitzgerald and Michael Kaye* (Photo by Mark S. Howard)

Michael Kaye* and Kate Fitzgerald* (Photo by Mark S. Howard)

Aimee Doherty* and Michael Kaye*(Photo by Mark S. Howard)

21

August

Playwright

Director

Bridget Conroy

Cathleen Mullin

Jack Smythe

Scenic Design

Costume Design

Lighting Design

Sound Design

Production Stage Manager

Assistant Stage Manager

Props Artisan

Assistant Director

Dialect Coach

Wardrobe Supervisor

Audio Supervisor

Head Electrician

Two Irish immigrant women search for love, serenity, and a place to call “home” in this impassioned, heartfelt drama.

Thirst

By Ronán Noone

Directed by Courtney O'Connor

Running Time: 2 hours and 15 minutes, including an intermission.

2023/24 Season Sponsors:

Paul Kastner

G. Lee & Diana Humphrey

Production Sponsors: Mary & Doug Woodruff

Celebrating 50 Years Corporate Sponsor:

Summary

Listen to playwright, Ronán Noone on GBH's The Culture Show with Jared Bowen.

"The Lyric Stage Company has staged the touching drama "THIRST" and, for those eager for great theatre, many should find this latest production invigorating."-Kevin T. Baldwin, METRmag.com

"Noone’s narrative, with lovely direction from producing artistic director Courtney O’Connor, offers a glimpse into the lives of three people making the best of their situations."-Jacquinn Sinclair, WBUR

"Janie E. Howland’s reconstruction of a 1912 kitchen is superb. Water comes out of the tap, smoke comes off the stove, the smell of bacon fills the theater. This, plus O’Connor’s limber direction, makes for a very vivid afternoon of theater."-Michele Markarian, Theater Mirror

"Noone furnishes at least some reason to believe that for his trio, it will be a long day's journey into light."-Don Aucoin, The Boston Globe

"The confines of the play’s intimate kitchen set emphasizes the claustrophobia, familial loyalty, and helplessness that emanate throughout “Thirst,” creating an emotionally gripping whirlwind from start to finish."-Kinnereth S. Din, The Harvard Crimson

"Mikayla Reid’s period costumes and Karen Perlow’s layered lighting also add to the first-rate feel of the production. Dialect coach Rebecca Gibel has also done yeoman’s work in helping achieve the believability of the accents."-R. Scott Reedy, Broadway World

"Designer Karen Perlow turns the play's stage lighting into a poetic barometer of the alternating brightening and dimming of the character's fortunes."-Jules Becker, MySouthEnd.com

"Doherty and Fitzgerald’s sweet and spicy rapport is as comical as it is bittersweet and their tendency to take things too far makes for some enthralling moments."-Jeanne Denizard, Sleepless Critic