I joined a pal last night to see the world premier of Sam Shepard’s Ages of the Moon in the Abbey. Written specially for Stephen Rea and Seán McGinley, the play sees two stunning performances by both actors. Set in an undisclosed ‘sultry’ state in middle America the two men haven’t seen each other in years until Ames (Rea) desperately calls Byron (McGinley) to come to aid his drunken misery. The play is set on the day they reunite as they chat, joke, cry, argue and fight through their issues with each other and themselves. Ames is self obsessed and neurotic, traits that Byron deliberately monopolises to annoy and irritate his friend. Byron is subdued and less eager to talk about himself until the near climax of the film. Both men are likeable but riddled with faults gained through experiences over the last 50 years of knowing each other. Ages of the Moon is a mesmerising play not least because of the two actors’ performances but because of Shepards amusing, engaging and surprising script.
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