It's time for my review of The Ferryman.Jez Butterworth's latest play The Ferryman is, arguably, the most critically acclaimed play that London's West End has had in the past year. It first began at the Royal Court Theatre in April 2017, where it became an immediate hit. After a sell-out run at the Royal Court, it then made its way to the Gielgud Theatre in the West End. There has been an endless amount of buzz surrounding it, and for months and months I have had several people recommending that I go and see it. Last Saturday, I finally had this opportunity to see what all the hype was about.
The Ferryman is set in Rural Derry, Northern Ireland, in 1981. The Carney farmhouse is a hive of activity with preparations for the annual harvest. A day of hard work on the land and a traditional night of feasting and celebrations lie ahead. But this year they will be interrupted by a certain visitor, and things are unlikely to be the same again... What I particularly loved about The Ferryman was how true to life it seemed. The Ferryman centres around a gigantic family of 11, all living under the same roof. Whilst I personally have a small family, The Ferryman perfectly captures what I imagine the dynamics of a large family would look like. Additionally, I also appreciated how realistic the events regarding the Northern Irish Troubles and the IRA were. Drawing on first hand experiences, Butterworth gives a fascinating insight into those who became caught up in the attacks conducted by the IRA. The characters in The Ferryman all have different opinions as to whether the IRA are in the right or the wrong, leaving the audience with the idea that, in life, not everything is black and white. With any situation in life, nothing can be portrayed as simply 'good' and 'bad'; things are a lot more complicated than that. Prior to watching The Ferryman, my knowledge of the 'The Troubles' was fairly limited, and I only knew the simple facts regarding the issue. The Ferryman helped me to expand my knowledge to a great extent, and I am appreciative that this play was able to educate me.
The entirety of the original cast of The Ferryman left the production in January, with a brand new cast taking the reins of the show after that. I am pleased to say that the new cast are excellent and all of them have settled into their roles nicely. In the lead role of Quinn Carney is Owen McDonnell, an exceptionally talented and outstanding actor, with a gigantic stage presence. Playing opposite him in the role of Caitlin Carney is Rosalie Craig, and she too is stunning. She's extremely charismatic and was perfectly cast in this role. The two supporting cast members that gave the most memorable performances were Justin Edwards, in the role of Tom Kettle, and Francis Mezza, in the role of Shane Corcoran. Justin Edwards portrays the lonely and dim-witted english farm assistant Tom Kettle, a role he excels in. Edwards has the necessary precise comedic timing needed for the role, and as a result, his performance is the funniest aspect of the entire show. Francis Mezza's portrayal of the young Irish lad with a desire to join the IRA may be one of the best performances in any West End play currently. He had a great command of the stage, he was extremely believable and his characterisation was fascinating. Other cast members that deserve special mentions for their magnificent performances in The Ferryman are Declan Conoln as Muldoon, Laurie Kynaston as Osin Carney, Mark Lambert as Uncle Patrick Carney, Stella Mccosker as Aunt Maggie Far Away and, last but by not means least, Siân Thomas as Aunt Patricia Carney.
For his direction of The Ferryman, Sam Mendes has received an Evening Standard Theatre Award, a WhatsOnStage Award and is currently awaiting to find out if he has won an Oliver Award. All of the praise for his direction is well deserved, as it is clear to me that The Ferryman is an excellently directed piece. I personally feel that it is Mendes that deserves a lot of the credit for giving The Ferryman its 'true-to-life' feeling. Throughout the course of the play, a real life baby is brought onto the stage, a real rabbit enters the stage, and if this wasn't enough, even a goose is carried onto the stage. Instead of opting for props, Mendes has chosen to use real animals, and one baby, to ensure that The Ferryman feels as real as possible. Mendes has gone the extra mile to keep the play authentic, which he should be commended for. Additionally, the set design is also very helpful in achieving the 'true-to-life' vibe. The set design is utterly striking, and it is hard to believe how much detail has been put into it. The set is unbelievably comprehensive!
The Ferryman excels in keeping its audience engaged with the play throughout. The play is a total of 3 hours and 10 minutes, but the time flew by, and the audience were left wanting even more. There is so much happening throughout the whole show and I was utterly gripped from beginning to end.
The featured star of The Ferryman is, drum roll please... FRANCIS MEZZA!
The Ferryman cast left me with a large amount of choices for who to choose for featured star. I changed my mind a total of three times on this decision, but in the end, I chose Francis Mezza. Mezza brought barrels of energy to the role; he was utterly captivating to watch. His characterisation is fascinating and I actually found him to be the most interesting character in all of The Ferryman.
Now for my final verdict on The Ferryman. I give The Ferryman...
The Ferryman is a perfect example how high quality West End plays can be. The Ferryman is transferring to Broadway later this year, and I wish the production the best of luck in its transfer!
Think it should have got a higher rating? Agree with my rating? Think it should have got a lower rating? If so comment below.
Thanks for reading!
-The Reviewer
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