by Claire DeMarco
Tim Finnegan (Michael Patrick Trimm) is an Irish immigrant (now American citizen) who like multitudes before him came to the United States for a better life and more opportunities.
He resides on Amity Island in Massachusetts, hoping for the environment that will invigorate and release his artistic side. He’s a writer.
Finnegan relies on his income as a bartender to support his American-born wife and young son while pursuing his dream. When he loses his bartending job and his young son faces serious illness, he is faced with financial ruin.
A local car crash on Amity Island highlights the underlying theme of the play. Amity Island is a haven for wealthy people whose current inhabitants’ ancestors have lived there for generations. The crash involved two cars and two people. An illegal immigrant runs into a young, native Amity Island resident and kills him.
Tensions have already grown between the native islanders and immigrants in general, whether legal or not and this accident only amplifies their feelings.
Finnegan is exposed to a deeper look at the world of some illegal immigrants.
Ramifications of the car crash set the stage for Finnegan to take a different path in his life – one that could lead to financial stability. The choice is his!
Trimm is outstanding as the aspiring writer and Irish born American citizen. Although this is a one man show there are a multitude of unseen co-stars. Trimm plays all of those co-stars, telling his story through the conversations he has with them and they with him. Whether it’s his wife, or a Spanish-speaking man or woman or American brother-in-law, he takes on the accent, characteristics and nuances of each player. The tones, sex identity and accents he converts are excellent and often occur seconds apart. The transitions are seamless and smooth!
Occasionally Trimm interacts with the audience, either pulling them briefly into the conversation or mixing drinks at the bar and serving them. There is a lot of physical movement as he dashes around the stage.
Note: Trimm’s dialogues and narratives are delivered in rhyme.
The play is not all doom and gloom. Dark comedy is scattered throughout as we watch and listen to Finnegan’s tales.
“The Smuggler” exceeds all expectations! A tour-de-force performance and production.
Sound Designer Adam Davy’s sound effects, often subtle like the soft noises in the evening or more vigorous like a few lines of the Star-Spangled Banner at the opening and ending of the play are effective.
Dialect Coach Lisa Bansavage delivers as she guides Trimm through multiple accents throughout the play.
The set is dark but not gloomy. The main prop is the bar where Finnegan spends much of his time. Some of the theater patrons are seated in small circular tables on either side of the stage.
-CED
“The Smuggler” is a production of PICT (Pittsburgh International Classic Theatre). Performances run from March 13th to March 22nd at Carnegie Stage, 25 W Main St, Carnegie, PA 15106. For more information, click here.
