OLD TESTAMENT themes and the Irish Literary Revival get an outing at the Finborough Theatre as it dusts off T. C. Murray’s 1910 play Birthright. This short but intense two-acter helped to make the reserved Roman Catholic schoolmaster’s name as a playwright and did much for Dublin’s nascent Abbey Theatre, too. One son is about to be sent off on a long journey to America; the other is out captaining the village hurling team. The fiery Bat Morrissey (Pádraig Lynch on commanding form) prefers his favoured younger son, Shane, to inherit the family farm, and the mother, Maura (endearing Rosie Armstrong), is powerless. Birthright is at the Finborough Theatre, 118 Finborough Road, London SW10, until 30 September.

Source: The Times September 20, 2023 11:46 UTC