Last night, I had the pleasure of seeing Dear Liar at the Irish Repertory Theatre, which is enjoying a one-week-only run.
The play, by Jerome Kilty, consists almost entirely of letters between the Irish dramatist Bernard Shaw and his muse, Mrs. Patrick Campbell, the actress who inspired Shaw to create the role of Eliza Doolittle in Pygmalion.
Irish Rep is billing the show as a staged reading, but there are costumes, sets, and two actors who are essentially off book. David Staller plays Shaw and Melissa Errico takes on the role of Campbell, commanding the stage as the legendary actress once did.
Charlotte Moore directed the piece, adding a number of light touches that tell the story of the two protagonists as they thrill, battle, and ultimately age. Shaw called Campbell by her middle name, Stella, while she called him Joey after the famous clown Joseph Grimaldi.
The play is a joy to watch, so get your tickets now, as it's only running through Sunday, April 30th.
