the freedom of the city

By Brian Friel

Directed by Joan Bryans

Jericho Arts Centre: May 3 - 19, 2024

When the police disrupt a peaceful civil rights protest, three unarmed strangers, a middle-aged mother, Lily – and two young men – seek refuge from the mayhem.  Unbeknownst to them they are branded as terrorists and their position used to everyone's advantage except their own.   Brian Friel’s hard hitting examination of the nature of power is as relevant as we look at the Middle East today as it was during the Troubles of Northern Ireland.

Yet, while their situation as they hide out is dire, the unsuspecting trio amuse themselves, and us, in true Irish fashion.  As Lily says of their meeting,  “Lord, I enjoyed that. The craic was good. Wasn't the craic good?”

(“Craic” = Irish for  gossip, fun, entertainment, and enjoyable conversation.)

The Freedom of the City ran at:
Jericho Arts Centre: May 3-19, 2024,
Thurs - Sat at 8 pm, Sundays at 2 pm.
Talk back night: Thursday May 9th.

CAST
Geneva Perkins (Lily)
Liam McCulley (Skinner)
Isaac Andrew (Michael)
with Pat Bahrich, Christopher Brown, Claudia Golombiewski, Oliver de la Harpe, Daryl Hutchings, Ben McGrattan, Allyson Riley, Devan Vancise, Sam Walmsley-Byrne

DIRECTION:
Director - Joan Bryans

DESIGN:

Set - Todd Parker, ass. Gena Kolson; Lighting - Jack Mosher; Costume - Jordon Chambers; Sound - Josh Osborne; Properties- Barbara Walsh
Military advisor - Gordon Law
Stage Management - Andy Sandberg
Producers - Nancy Caldwell & Joan Bryans

PRESS

“Note to aspiring playwrights: If you want to know how it's done, go and see Brian Friel's The Freedom of the City ... this is a terrific – and terrifying – play... Under Bryans' astute direction, the performances are better than solid – in many cases, splendid...

The thing that makes The Freedom of the City so engaging is that we come to like, to empathize and to wish good things for Lily, Skinner and Michael.  Playwright Friel wraps a very political play in a very human package.

The Freedom of the City is a terrific play and this very fine production illustrates just how much spark there is in Vital Spark Theatre.”

Jo Ledingham, 
Read the whole review here - 
https://joledingham.ca/the-freedom-of-the-city/

“… passionate, some of the writing is transcendent, and this production from Vital Spark Theatre is solid...And, under Bryans's direction, the performances from this large amateur company are impressively consistent.”

Colin Thomas,
Read the whole review here -
https://colinthomas.ca/the-freedom-of-the-city-could-use-a-better-map/