The Seafarer

Bill Zielinski's bartending Brendan in The Arden's 2000 production of 

The Weir didn't have a story to tell. 

He was always debatin' 

It's almost as if this story has been nine years coming.

Whereas the haunted inhabitants of Conor McPherson's The Weir were haunted houses, plagued by loss and regret, just below unrequited love or obsession in the hierarchy of torments, Mr.Zielinski's character is put upon by forces of mephistophelean caliber.

David O'Connor's production notes quote the text of the old Anglo-Saxon poem, The Seafarer: "Wretched and anxious, in the paths of exile, lacking dear friends, hung round by icicles, while hail flew past in showers" describes the psychological touchstone of the play.

So it's only fitting to have Mr Zielinski return to the central role of James "Sharky" Harkin in Conor McPherson's latest opus The Seafarer  at the Arden Theatre Company. 

Considering Mr. Zielinsk's familiarity with McPherson and McPherson's affinity for Mamet, William Zielinski's portrayal of Sharky was a perfect fit - the engine of the play: always ready to clean the detritus left by winos out of the alley or prepare a meal of smoked salmon and soda bread.

The cast was rounded out by the expert talents of veteran Philly actors Anthony Lawton (Ivan Curry), Greg Wood (Mr. Lockheart) who never fails to deliver, Brian Russell (Richard Harkin, Barrymore anyone?) and Joe Hickey (Nicky Giblin). 

Having lived in Ireland, in LaHinch (O'Looney's was a favorite drinking spot after surfing) I can tell you that Mr. Hickey's portrayal of the strained, garrulous, and hyper-active Giblin was brilliant, spot-on, excellent.

McPherson's character's unravel slowly, reveal gradually, just as the characters of the Weir were contained, bursting at the seams, (from the Old English wer, to damn up); the wretched and anxious characters here endure the cold psychic wind of the titular Seafarer. Watching them come back to shore is the drama. See this play.