Translations

Produced by: The Black Mirror Theatre Company

Directed By: Madeline Finn

Lighting Designer: Clare Fairbanks

Sound Designer: Catherine Hopkins

Irish Language Coach: Dennis Corcoran

Set Designers: Madeline Finn and George Compas

Costume Design and Props: Madeline Finn

Costumes: The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis and Teresa Doggett

Cast:

Manus…………………………………...……………Joseph Garner

Sarah….………………………….…....…………….Janine Norman

Jimmy Jack…….………………….…………….Daniel Higgins

Maire………….…………………….……….………Carly Uding

Doalty…………………………………….…...........Duncan Phillips

Bridget………….……………………….……….....Maya Kelch

Hugh…………...………………...…………….......Charles E. Winning

Owen……………………………………….………….Sean Michael

Lieutenant Yolland..….………..……………..Jesse O’Freel

Captain Lancey……….……….…………...…..William Nolan

REVIEWS:

"Brian Friel’s scrutiny of language in his probing, three-act drama was given a studied and satisfying interpretation in a recent Black Mirror Theatre production....Director Madeline Finn smoothly guided her earnest cast through a fine and touching performance of Friel’s haunting prose, which took place on an atmospheric set designed by Finn and George Compas....Thanks are due to Black Mirror Theatre for offering a fine production of this rarely seen gem."

-Mark Bretz of Ladue News

"Madeline Finn directs this new staging, giving each of her characters an unbreakable spirit, even as they saddle one another with impossible expectations."

-Richard T. Green of Talkin' Broadway St. Louis

"The director Madeline Finn provides an adroit feel of her own. Rather than weigh the play down in a heavy concept, Finn allows the play's language to take center stage. This choice permits the script to breathe, clarifies the play's literary allusions, and allows the show's clever uses of multiple tongues to work their magic on the audience. The strength of Finn's direction over all is in her assembling a wonderfully talented ensemble of actors, and overseeing the assemblage of a versatile unit design."

-Jacob Jutunen for KDHX

Director’s Note

“My job is to translate the quaint, archaic tongue you people persist in speaking into the King’s good English” – Owen, Translations

When given the challenge to direct this beautiful text, the notions of words themselves became most important. Many different languages are used throughout the show from Irish to Greek to English to Latin to Sign Language. But two languages dominate the show, both English but unintelligible to each other. This creates a world in which the characters cannot understand each other, even when speaking the same language. Translations is passionately Irish. Friel was once quoted as saying the play “is about language and only about language.” For those who think that one language is enough, is it truly? Can we still keep the true meaning of a language by translating it? We lose more than one would think. We lose subtleties, meanings, history, culture, and the lessons to learn from them.

“It is not the literal past, the ‘facts’ of history, that shape us, but images of the past embodied in language” – Hugh, Translations.

Language can be beautiful. It can be ugly. It can build and destroy all on its own. When we change a language that is essential to a person’s culture, self, and belief, what remains?

-Madeline Finn

SPECIAL NOTE

For each attendee of a Black Mirror production, a financial donation is made to Operation Backpack to help eradicate childhood hunger in the St. Louis area.  Our children deserve that. Simply by being here you have made a difference in a child’s life.