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The Shawshank Redemption at the Gaiety Theatre

As the curtain lifted, I think I may have gasped at the hugely impressive stage, transformed into the cold, barred up Shawshank Prison.

Though destined to be compared with Frank Darabont’s classic 1994 film, Owen O’Neill and Dave John’s interpretation of Stephen King’s short story immediately began ploughing its own furrows. The opening sounds of sirens, the introduction of Warden Stammas (Mitchell Mullen) and the biblical stripping of Andy Dufresne and the other ‘fresh meat’, are clearly geared towards rattling free of the preconceptions, aiming to present something new and different.

Andy Dufresne is convicted of murdering his wife and her lover and sent to the notorious Shawshank Prison to serve two life sentences. Stripped of his life, family and freedom, Andy is forced to endure a spirit-crushing routine. But with his quiet strength and inner courage there is one thing that Andy never loses – and that is hope.

The Wire’s Reg E. Cathey, playing Red, hit the ground running. Seemingly unperturbed by any comparisons between him and Morgan Freeman, Cathey went about putting his own mark on the role, giving us a younger, angrier Red, whose character develops and grows with the help of the quiet thoughtful Andy Dufresne.

In the part made famous by Tim Robbins, Kevin Anderson faced a difficult task. Slow to impress in the first 20 minutes, he soon found his stride and particularly in the second act, he showed us a cockier-than-Robbins Andy.

A testament to both the writing and the acting, both the leads made us believe we were watching 20 years in Shawshank unfold in front of us in only two hours.

Directed by Peter Sheridan, brother of Oscar nominated director Jim, Shawshank moves at pace without feeling hurried. Each emotional button is pushed at just the right moment, each painful revelation shocks and appalls, each mention of hope, the play’s all encompassing theme, is honest and genuine. With the exception of one or two poorly conceived fight scenes and Andy’s expulsion from the Warden’s office (almost delving into slapstick) it is a neatly timed and well choreographed play.

Perfectly complimenting Ferdia Murphy’s set design is Kevin Treacy’s lighting, used to the fullest effect in one of the most moving scenes I’ve ever seen on stage – the inmates’ rendition of The Rock of Ages (it gave me shivers).

*For those who have not read the short story or seen the film, the following paragraph in italics contains spoilers*

Andy’s eventual escape is beautifully, poetically realised and the subsequent scenes are so satisfying I was grinning like a child who just discovered chocolate for the first time. The final moments are magnificent and heartwarming, if somewhat grandiose.

Go see Shawshank at the Gaeity. Regardless of the fact that it’s a brilliantly told story, with heartbreaking lows and uplifting highs; regardless that it has two fine actors in the lead roles; regardless that it has some of the greatest supporting roles I’ve seen on stage, including a tear inducing Keir Dullea (2001: A Space Odyssey’s Dave) as Brooksie and Fair City’s Joe Hanley as Bogs, proving he is a great actor in a role he should be incredibly proud of – regardless all these things, go see Shawshank now because it is the World Stage Premiere. If it does well in Dublin, I assure you it will travel the world and be a huge success.

The Shawshank Redemption runs until 20th June and tickets are priced from €25 up to €55 (I would highly recommend catching a matinee showing to secure good seats). For more information, check out the Gaiety Theatre’s website or tap in www.theshawshankredemption.ie. Don’t miss it.

Lastly, check out this excellent interview with Reg E. Cathey (Red):