Lincoln Center Festival Presents Gate|Beckett Beginning July 16

By Andrew Gans
16 Jul 2008

Dublin's Gate Theatre returns to the Lincoln Center Festival July 16 with Gate|Beckett, featuring Ralph Fiennes, Barry McGovern and Liam Neeson.

The production features three Beckett pieces not originally conceived for the theatre as well as readings of Beckett's poetry and prose. The plays comprise Eh Joe (with Neeson), which was penned for television in 1965; I'll Go On (with McGovern), adapted from the 1950s novels "Molloy, Malone Dies" and "The Unnamable"; and First Love (with Fiennes), based on a 1965 novella.

Atom Egoyan stages Eh Joe, which concerns "an aging man [who] sits alone on a single bed while a woman's voice (actress Penelope Wilton in voiceover) assails him inside his head. The walls become a screen onto which is projected the man's face, in a gradually intensifying close-up." Eileen Diss is the designer with lighting design by James McConnell.

I'll Go On, directed by Colm Ó Briain, reveal Beckett's "mature styles and themes," according to press notes. Robert Ballagh designed the production with lighting design by James McConnell.

Gate Theatre director Michael Colgan helms First Love, which recounts "the story of a newly homeless man who encounters a woman while sleeping on a park bench." Eileen Diss designs with lighting design by James McConnell.

Performance dates and times at John Jay College follow.

Eh Joe: July 16 at 7 PM and 9 PM, July 20 at 9 PM, July 22 at 7 PM, July 23 at 7 PM and July 25 at 7:30 PM.

I'll Go On: July 17, 18, 19, 21, 23 and 24 at 9 PM.

First Love: July 20 at 6 PM, July 21 at 7 PM, July 22 at 9 PM, July 24 at 7 PM and July 25 at 5 and 9 PM.

Audiences can also enjoy all three plays on the same day on July 26 and 27.

Also planned for Gate|Beckett:

Beckett Poetry & Prose
Readings drawn from a selection of Beckett's novels, poetry, prose, and dramatic works.

July 26 at 2 PM: Barry McGovern, Liam Neeson and friends
July 27 at 2 PM: Ralph Fiennes, Barry McGovern and friends

Gerald W. Lynch Theater at John Jay College is located at Tenth Avenue, between 58th and 59th Streets. For tickets call (212) 721-6500 or visit www.LincolnCenter.org.