PHILADELPHIA
HERE I COME
Irish Repertory Theatre
Lucille Lortel Award Nominations
Outstanding Revival
Outstanding Lead Performer In A Play, A.J. Shively
Outer Critics Circle Award Nomination
Best Revival Of A Play
Drama Desk Award Nominations
Outstanding Revival Of A Play
Outstanding Direction Of A Play, Ciaran O’Reilly
Outstanding Lead Performance In A Play, A.J. Shively
“Ciaran Byrne plays Kate’s overprotective father to condescending perfection and matches this church and state double act by also playing the nights only religious figure Canon O’Byrne.”
IRISH CENTRAL, CAHIR O’DOHERTY
“Byrne excels as the proper Senator Doogan and the perhaps less-than-proper Canon O’Byrne.”
THIS WEEK IN NEW YORK, MARK RIFKIN
MADE BY GOD
IRISH REPERTORY THEATRE
"In the role of Michael, Ciaran Byrne brings forth a particularly remarkable portrait of a simple, likeable man, touched by tragedy and gripped by loss. Byrne’s performance contains an intrinsic sadness and steady humility, the essence and integrity of a man aware of his flaws.”
THE IRISH ECHO, KEVIN PHOENIX
“Ciaran Byrne plays the older Michael, Ann’s former boyfriend, with a nicely rueful turn that suggests years of hidden anguish that he’s only now stepping out from.”
IRISH CENTRAL, CAHIR O’DOHERTY
DieRy
MAILER TUCHMAN MEDIA
“Once Ciaran Byrne shows up as Angus, a wonderfully besotted yet wise private investigator, director Jennifer Gelfer’s entertaining thriller springs to life and sustains its momentum until the end. DieRy has the feel of one of those mid-90’s teen thrillers, such as I Know What You Did Last Summer, and is a fun contemporary spin on the young adults-in-peril subgenre.” MOVIE SCORE: 7/10
FILM THREAT
“Julia Swain’s cinematography exudes atmosphere in the psychological thriller DieRy, and the chemistry between the central cast is wholly organic, with excellent performances across the board, and standout displays from Claudia Mailer and Ciaran Byrne”.
UK FILM REVIEW
“The film, DieRy, written by John Buffalo Mailer and superbly imagined by director Jennifer Gelfer, is remarkably assured, deeply engaging, and includes brilliant breakout performances from Claudia Maree Mailer and Northern Ireland-born builder-turned-actor Ciaran Byrne, in his riveting star turn as Angus McGlaughlin, the private investigator hired to track down a mysterious stalker. Angus’s straight line intensity is felt in every scene, Byrne walking the fine line between restrained and untamed, the edginess of his performance is something to behold. Mailer sizzles and Byrne smoulders. Together they power this thriller along every twist and turn.”
Fifteen Minutes With
A TOUCH OF THE POET
IRISH REPERTORY THEATRE,
VIRTUAL PERFORMANCE
“Whether A Touch of the Poet is top-drawer O’Neill may remain to be decided, but, under Ciaran O’Reilly’s astute direction, it is impressively acted by all concerned (that includes David O’Hara, Tim Ruddy, David Sitler, and Ciaran Byrne), and keep in mind, their acting chops had to be strained. After all, were they on stage with each other, they could react to each other as performers do. Here, superimposed from separate locales - in vacuums, it could be said - they constantly had to acquit themselves as screen actors often do. Their accomplishments, even though this form of streamed entertainment is still somewhat crude - are noteworthy.”
New York Stage Review, David Finkle
“The Irish Repertory Theatre was about to open a revival of A Touch of the Poet when the pandemic shut the theater down. Now it has reassembled its far-flung cast electronically, taping their performances in their own homes. Perfectly cast and staged, the Irish Rep has given Eugene O’Neill’s play a powerfully compelling, first class production. The illusion that the actors are sharing the same physical space is uncanny to the point of eeriness. It is a shining model for any company putting its work online during the Covid pandemic. There is, in short, no downside to webcasting your productions - if you do it right. A Touch of the Poet is right in every way.”
The Wall Street Journal, Terry Teachout
”With strong, entertaining, comic performances throughout from the gaggle of tavern denizens (Ciaran Byrne, Andy Murray, David O’Hara), it should be noted that this remarkable company of actors were recorded in different locations to maintain social-distancing protocols, complete with a scenic backdrop, props, period inspired costumes, and green screens shipped to the actors’ homes. Kudos are due to the cast and the entire production team for undertaking such a task with any play, much less one by O’Neill. Irish Rep’s contributions to our currently challenged theater scene are welcome, and they deserve props for translating A Touch of the Poet to an online format during a time when, in New York at least, there is no other way to see a production of it. For O’Neill fans especially, this production is one that should not be missed.”
THEATERMANIA, Pete Hempstead
MOMENT
Studio THEATRE, washington d.c.
3 Helen Hayes Award Nominations
Best Production
Best Direction
Best Featured Actor for Dearbhla Molloy
”The acting in Moment is so sharp it’s like seeing a play in a live equivalent of high-def. Ciaran Byrne and Caroline Bootle-Pendercast supply spirited turns as the good-time couple Ciara and her husband, the simple-spirited Dave, and the result is acting that never hits a wrong note.”
the washington post
”Family drama Moment simmers and explodes at Studio Theatre. An engaging story and excellent cast including Dearbhla Molloy and Ciaran Byrne — a master at comedic relief — make Moment one of the strongest theatrical experiences of the season.”
Broadway world
THE NIGHT ALIVE
City Theatre, PITTSBURGH
”Ciaran Byrne plays Doc with cheery naive sweetness, and his clueless optimism is a large part of the play’s humor. Capturing our sympathy, Mr. Byrnes’ performance rises above both physically and emotionally, and it’s the image of him embracing himself with happiness that sticks with us.”
pittsburgh post-gazette
“One might say that Ciaran Byrne as Doc steals the show, but his pockets have been searched and he’s innocent.”
Entertainment Central Pittsburgh
“Though Doc [Ciaran Byrne] seems to have a screw or two loose, he also seems to have a divine understanding of the universe through his dreams, making him both silly and profound, two sides Byrne interprets flawlessly.”
STAGE MAGAZINE
PAINTING HIS WINGS
NEW YORK Fringe Festival
”Moments Made Here is the tag-line of this years Fringe, and there is a beautiful moment that belongs to the father [Ciaran Byrne], a monologue of mourning and desolation, an attempt to bridge the chasm between people who are hurting in the same house.”
THE NEW YORK TIMES
“A separate shout out goes to Ciaran Byrne for his charming and incredibly honest portrayal of patriarch Paul Whelan, desperately attempting to hold the shattered fragments of what used to be.”
Theatre Is Easy
BLOOD
THE CELL THEATRE
”In The Cell Theatre’s riveting drama Blood, Ciaran Byrne’s James Connolly is an impassioned, instinctive, all-too-human revolutionary, with the down-to-earth sensibilities of a family man.”
huffpost
OBSERVE THE SONS OF ULSTER MARCHING TOWARDS THE SOMME
PICT CLASSICAL THEATRE
“Director Matt Torney will never be accused of underplaying any emotional beat: In his hands, this play is its own sort of siege, and that intensity is matched by an impeccable first-rate cast, led by Martin Giles and Ciaran Byrne, who pull out all the stops. There isn’t a second you’re not giving PICT Classical Theatre’s production of Frank McGuinness’ mountain of a play the attention demanded.”