Directed by Guthrie artistic director Joe Dowling, the production will officially open on the McGuire Proscenium Stage Sept. 28. Performances will continue through Nov. 25.
The cast features Simon Jones as Christopher Gore, Michael Bakkensen as David Gore, Richard S. Iglewski as Dr. Richard Gore and Sarah Agnew as Margaret O'Donnell with Matthew Amendt (Con Doherty), Virginia S. Burke (Mary Sweeney), Maggie Chestovich (Sally Cavanagh), Charles Keating (Clement O'Donnell), Steve Lewis (Perkins), Samuel Finnegan Pearson (Tommy Boyle) and James Ramlet (Johnny MacLoone). Juliet Paulson and Scarlett Thompson will share the role of Maisie McLaughlin.
The Home Place, which made its world premiere in 2005 at Dublin's Gate Theatre, concerns the story of "Christopher Gore (Simon Jones), a well-meaning English landlord, and his son David (Michael Bakkensen). Their lives come undone when a cousin, Dr. Richard Gore (Richard S. Iglewski), arrives in Donegal with the intention of pursuing a scientific inquiry. Inspired by Darwinism, and more particularly Sir Francis Galton's spin-off theories of human racial classification, Dr. Gore sets out to survey the anthropometry of the indigenous Irish. By measuring their craniums and other skeletal characteristics, he hopes to crack the genetic code of the indigenes, demonstrating their (presumably inferior) place in the natural order, and scientifically predicting their (potentially dangerous) behavior. The Gores, both father and son, are in love with Margaret O'Donnell (Sarah Agnew), a local woman who has worked in The Lodge since she was fourteen. All three pursue a dream of freedom from their 'history and heritage and the awful burden' of the big house."
The creative team also includes Frank Hallinan Flood (set designer), Monica Frawley (costume designer), Matthew Reinert (lighting designer), Reid Rejsa (sound designer), Michael Lupu (dramaturgy), Cathal Quinn (voice and speech consultant), Marcela Lorca (movement), Russell W. Johnson (stage manager), Elizabeth R. MacNally (assistant stage manager) and Alex Torra (assistant director).
The Guthrie is located at 818 South 2nd Street (at Chicago Avenue) in downtown Minneapolis. For tickets call (877) 44 STAGE or visit www.guthrietheater.org.
