Writer: Morgan C Jones
Director: Conall Morrison
The Quiet Men is a biographical piece of work about the lives of Irish movie stars and brothers Arthur Shields and Barry Fitzgerald. It is written and performed by their great grand nephew, Morgan C Jones. As stalwarts of The Abbey Theatre for over 20 years they also found success in America, and again in Ireland as both starred in the classic John Ford film The Quiet Men.
Despite their fame there were many stories that they were unable to tell at the time, so Jones takes the audience on a whistlestop tour of the highs and lows of their personal lives. The show delves into Arthur’s multiple marriages and Berry’s life as a closeted gay man living with his movie stand in Gus. Opening with Barry’s manslaughter charge of 1944, the audience know from the start that this will be an entertaining and insightful play. A one man show Jones skillfully performs the roles of both brothers as well as a few others throughout. There is even a wonderful ‘cameo’ where Jones plays both sides of an audition/interview between Barry and Alfred Hitchcock.
The set is relatively simple, a table with a telephone on it, two directors chairs with one saying ‘Shields’ and the other ‘Fitzgerald’, a coat stand, and to the right a screen. This makes it easy for the setting to change between Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and Ireland without an awful amount of fuss or effort. The screen is used throughout to play some footage, but also to orient the audience as we move around between different events in the brothers’ lives. It’s very effectively used throughout and ensures the audience knows where we are in both time and place at all times.
Jones switches between both brothers changing voice and mannerisms to a point where it almost feels like watching more than one person perform. He performs several other roles throughout requiring him to switch accents and body language. Each time is seamless and looks as though it is completely effortless to him. It’s an impressive feat. The costuming is kept relatively simple. Jones is in a suit and then uses multiple accessories to help him switch between characters. It is a fascinating thing to watch and highly entertaining to see how a hat or blanket or scarf can aid in transforming him from one person to another.
The show is peppered with subtle humour and lots of heart. The Quiet Men is a touching, charming tribute from a great grand nephew.
Runs Until 14th March 2026.
