The Tallest Man - World Premiere PDF Print E-mail

The Tallest Man by Jim Lynch 

Directed by John Mossman
Written by Jim Lynch

Extended through 8/22
Th 7:30, Fr-Sa 8:00, Su 5:00

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Developed over the past two years by playwright and Artistic Home associate Jim Lynch, along with the Artistic Home Ensemble, The Tallest Man is a wildly hilarious celebration of perseverance, prejudice and superstition in turn of the century Ireland. Culled from a childhood nourished by tales of Irish fantasy, The Tallest Man's account of hardscrabble survivors in County Mayo begins as a ghost story but draws its power from the very real problems of the living. Drawing from an Irish folk tale, the play tells the story of a high-spirited young tinker struggling to stay one step ahead of the English landlords, corrupt clergy and vengeful locals.

Featuring Ensemble members Marta Evans, Nick Horst and Miranda Zola; and Guest Artists Shane Kenyon, Eamonn McDonagh, Darrelyn Marx, Malcolm Callan, Brandon Thompson, Bill Boehler and Si Osbourne.

Directed by John Mossman
Produced by Jimmy Ronan and Samantha Church
Assistant Directed by Kristin Collins
Stage Manager: Rose Kruger
Lighting design by Josh Weckesser
Scenic Design by Mike Mroch
Costume design by Ellen Seidel
Sound/Original Music design by Aaron Krister Johnson

Last Updated ( Tuesday, 31 August 2010 )
 

The Tallest Man has been getting tremendously great press! Read more below.

Feature Articles:
Theatrical ‘Tallest’ tale upholds Irish tradition at Artistic Home, Chicago Sun-Times
Local playwright reflects on inspiration, Chicago Tribune 
New Irish Playwright Jim Lynch, Irish American News

Reviews:
"...Jim Lynch's 'The Tallest Man,' a new play forged in the tradition of such grand Irish writers as Synge and O'Casey...Lynch harks back with undisguised verve to 1895 and many of the old themes: the famine, the drinking and storytelling, the attachment to the land, the oppression of the English, corruption in the Roman Catholic Church, the ordeal of immigration, and the role of powerful women...there is an appealing feverishness about it all, along with some very convincing accents." - Hedy Weiss, Chicago Sun-Times [full article]

"...audiences could use more plays—any plays—that measure up as solidly good, as in the case of the "The Tallest Man" (in a world premiere at the Artistic Home, which also helped develop the work)...it's delivered with such a wry topspin, and you have a director smart enough to emphasize legitimate emotions while letting throwaway lines (a man complimenting his barmaid's pour: "That's a lovely, forceful elbow you have") stand out just enough to linger for a sweet moment." - Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune [full article]

"John Mossman's staging subverts the Gaelic cliches with raucous zeal." - Lawrence Bommer, Chicago Reader [full article]

"This is the rich stuff of old Irish yarns, and Chicago playwright Lynch’s new script, developed over the past two years at the Artistic Home, draws on the tales he heard from his Irish family as a child. The production is solid..." - Benno Nelson, Time Out Chicago [full article]

"This engagingly funny and poignant work is a refreshing traditional Irish comedy. It is a tightly written and polished work by Jim Lynch that reflects the sharp eye of  director John Mossman and the efforts of  the creative folks at The Artistic Home who have invested two years assisting Lynch in the play’s  development.  The result is a most entertaining and sophisticated work about the raw rural poor inhabitants of the West of Ireland – a rocky, windswept place of rough hewn. 'The Tallest Man' is a marvel of ensemble acting featuring authentic Irish brogues, smart comedic timing and expert character development by the cast." -- Tom Williams, chicagocritic.com [full article]

"...a rowdy good time." - K.D. Hopkins, Chicago Theater Blog [full article]

"In the Irish tradition of spinning a good yarn, Lynch has penned a dramatic charmer complete with a banshee, bedlam, and booze."-- Katy Walsh, The Fourth Walsh [full article]


 

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