Blue Bridge Theatre’s production of Eugene O’Neill’s epic Long Day’s Journey Into Night brought to mind the great Dylan Thomas poem, Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night.
Faced with a three-and-a-half hour journey into one of theatre’s darkest – and most confessional – productions, the exceedingly well-cast actors including David Ferry as James Tyrone, an aging actor; his wife Mary – a morphine addict, played by Kyra Harper; consumptive son Edmund, played by Elliot Loran; and alcoholic Jamie, played by one of my local favourite’s Jacob Richmond – rage against the daunting length and produce such nuanced performances that each act (there were three in all) flew by as the audience became lost in O’Neill’s emotional and tragic saga.
The autobiographical tale of familial love, contempt and heartbreaking sorrow is ladled out by director Brian Richmond with tremendous precision, making the cadence feel like the rush of water heading toward an unseen precipice that keeps the audience engrossed the whole way.
Don’t miss this powerful, engrossing story of a family trying to come together while at the same time endeavouring to escape themselves.
The show runs until May 22 at The Roxy Theatre.