"An Irish Carol" - by Matthew Keenan - Greater Boston Stage Company (Stoneham, MA.) - REVIEW
(Cover Photo: Robert Walsh as “David” in a scene from "AN IRISH CAROL" now playing at Greater Boston Stage Company in Stoneham, MA. through December 21, 2025. Photo Credit Niles Scott Studios)
By Kevin T. Baldwin
METRMAG Reviewer
# 774-242-6724
"Ya know, she always fought your corner... when anyone would say anything bad about you she always stood up for ya. Always used to say that deep down you were still the same guy we used to know.”
- ("Richard") / Matthew Keenan
Greater Boston Stage Company
Presents Matthew Keenan's
"AN IRISH CAROL"
New England Premiere!
Written by Matthew Keenan
Producing Artistic Director and Director Weylin Symes+
Cast Includes: Alex Deroo* as “Bartek,” Julia Hertzberg* as “Anna,” Alex M. Jacobs as “Michael, U/S Richard, U/S Jim,” Chris Kandra as “U/S Simon, U/S Michael, U/S Bartek,” Alex Leondedis as “Simon,” Ross MacDonald* as “Jim,” Richard Snee* as “Frank,” Paul Valley* as “Richard, U/S Frank, U/S David,” Robert Walsh* as “David.”
The Four Marias: Eleanor Colleran, Gilda Fitzpatrick, Anya Juliette Flores, Phoebe Jacobs.
Additional Creative Team:
Scenic Design - Saskia Martinez; Lighting Design - Kevin Fulton; Costume Design - Chelsea Kerl; Sound Design - Mackenzie Adamick^; Properties Design - Emily Allinson; Dialects - Lee Nishri-Howitt; Production Stage Manager - Shauwna Dias Grillo*; Assistant Stage Manager - E.D. Fitzgerald*; Production Manager - Meghan Ward; Production Assistant - Alex White; Scenic Builder - Misfit Toys, LLC; Scenic Charge - Kate Bell.
*Member of Actor’s Equity Association
^Member of IATSE/USA
+Member of SDC
Performances:
December 5, 2025 through December 21, 2025
(Contact Box Office for Exact Times)
GREATER BOSTON STAGE COMPANY, 395 Main Street Stoneham, MA. 02180
TICKETS:
Box Office Hours: Mondays – Fridays, noon to 6pm Box Office # 781-279-2200 boxoffice@greaterbostonstage.org
BUY TICKETS
COVID 19 PROTOCOLS
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(Warning: The following review contains spoilers)
Greater Boston Stage Company (GBSC) offers up a hilarious and occasionally poignant holiday treat with "AN IRISH CAROL," now playing in Stoneham, MA.
Written by Dublin native Matthew J. Keenan and originally produced in 2011, "AN IRISH CAROL" is purported to be a twist on the Charles Dickens’ “Christmas Carol” story while set in an Irish pub.
The GBSC play is loaded with rich texture as the folks in the story attempt to remind its lead character of the person he once was and, if he would just open up his heart to forgive others (and himself), he could be again.
Also, by the way, do not - repeat: DO NOT - bring ANY children to see this performance unless you want them to learn the Irish variant of the “f***” word.
But do bring yourselves as it is a marvelous little piece about friends and about trying to mend relationships at the holidays.
(Photo: Richard Snee as “Frank” and Ross MacDonald as “Jim” in a scene from "AN IRISH CAROL" now playing at Greater Boston Stage Company in Stoneham, MA. through December 21, 2025. Photo Credit Niles Scott Studios)
At first, the title might feel a bit misleading as the plot here seems to compare little to the Dickens’ classic.
Oh, sure, there is a bitter “Scrooge-y” type character but, as depicted here, there is little he appears to have in common with the legendary literary miserable miser.
Yet, in "AN IRISH CAROL," Keenan takes the “Ebenezer” narrative and has replaced it with the modern owner of an Irish bar.
As he enters his establishment, bar owner David (Robert Walsh) is an ornery bundle of misery both to himself and to all around him on Christmas Eve.
More than curmudgeonly, Davis is just downright nasty (or nastier than usual, if these people are to be believed) to everyone on this night.
The GBSC bar set, by the way, is absolutely splendid, and to help augment the ambience, arrive early at the show and you’ll be treated to live authentic Celtic musical performances.
(Photo: Alex Deroo as “Bartek,” Robert Walsh as “David” and Julia Hertzberg as “Anna” in a scene from "AN IRISH CAROL" now playing at Greater Boston Stage Company in Stoneham, MA. through December 21, 2025. Photo Credit Niles Scott Studios)
David’s only employee, Bartek (Alex Deroo), works his fingers to the bone every night tending the bar, and is looking forward to spending Christmas day with his wife and little girl.
However, David, much like Ebenezer to old Bob Cratchit, informs Bartek that the Polish immigrant will need to work on Christmas Day for an important function at the bar.
Much like the bar from “Cheers” there are some regular patrons that help to keep David’s struggling business afloat, among them Frank (Richard Snee) whose mission, it seems, is to keep spirits light by lifting as many pints of spirits as he can without having to pay for most of them.
Perhaps Frank can be considered the “spirit of Christmas present?” Engaging with Frank and David is Jim (Ross MacDonald) who attempts to find out why David is more ornery than usual on this particular Christmas Eve.
(Photo: Robert Walsh as “David” in a scene from "AN IRISH CAROL" now playing at Greater Boston Stage Company in Stoneham, MA. through December 21, 2025. Photo Credit Niles Scott Studios)
Compounding David’s miserable mood are two of three visits of reminders of “Christmases past” (the first played by two-of-three “Alexes present” in this production) arriving in the form of his brother, Michael (Alex M. Jacobs) and former employee Simon (Alex Leondedis).
Michael attempts to mend fences with David but is unsuccessful, while Simon arrives with his new fiancé, Anna (Julia Hertzberg) by his side and makes an offer to buy David out, sending David into an outrage.
Both Jacobs and Leondedis are quite good in their roles even though their respective times on stage are quite brief.
The third reminder of a Christmas past arrives at the bar with the emergence of Richard (Paul Valley), who married and carries with him a message from the love of David’s life (and no, her name is not “Belle”).
(Photo: Ross MacDonald as “Jim,” Richard Snee as “Frank,” Alex Deroo as “Bartek,” Julia Hertzberg as “Anna” and Alex Leondedis as “Simon” in a scene from "AN IRISH CAROL" now playing at Greater Boston Stage Company in Stoneham, MA. through December 21, 2025. Photo Credit Niles Scott Studios)
There are overpowering messages of compassion and forgiveness in the profane-laden "AN IRISH CAROL" and, especially in the exchanges taking place between the characters of Walsh, Snee and MacDonald that these messages shine through.
Snee’s “Frank” character is continuously hilarious from the moment he enters the bar to the moment he staggers out.
But it is in an incredibly powerful exchange between Valley and Walsh and what follows that this Irish Scrooge’s redemption is at hand and, when it occurs, it is performed completely in silence, but Walsh’s intense performance on stage speaks volumes.
Additional interactions that stand out are between Hertzberg as Julia who is a teacher of children on the spectrum and “third Alex” Deroo as barkeep Bartek who is father to just such a child (shout out if you had “Tiny Tim” on your Bingo card).
(Photo: Robert Walsh as “David” in a scene from "AN IRISH CAROL" now playing at Greater Boston Stage Company in Stoneham, MA. through December 21, 2025. Photo Credit Niles Scott Studios)
Some of the performed Irish accents are better than others but none will take us out of the time and place in which the show is set.
The ending of Keenan’s script is completely rushed with the GBSC production offering up some head scratching appearances by characters we never saw during the entire play.
What might have worked slightly better is the inclusion of the live musical performers at the end, whose presence could have doubled as serving for the show’s bow music.
Otherwise, this is a simply terrific story that will have many folks leaving with a smile.
"AN IRISH CAROL" from Greater Boston Stage Company continues in Stoneham until December 21st, 2025 and should be added to your holiday list of shows to catch this season.
Coming up in the new year from GBSC will be the foreboding drama “WAIT UNTIL DARK” which begins March 6th and runs until March 22nd, 2026.
For tickets and more information, contact the GBSC Box Office at # 781-279-2200 or at boxoffice@greaterbostonstage.org
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Approximately one hour, 40 minutes with one intermission.
Kevin T. Baldwin is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA)
@MetrmagReviews
@Theatre_Critics
ABOUT THE SHOW
New England Premiere! Christmas spirits, Irish humor, and a holiday to remember.
It’s Christmas Eve in David’s cozy Dublin pub, and the ghosts of his past are finally catching up with him.
This comic and heartfelt tribute to Dickens’ timeless classic is infused with Irish wit and warmth, reminding us that it’s never too late for a life to change.
ABOUT GREATER BOSTON STAGE COMPANY
GREATER BOSTON STAGE COMPANY(GBSC) brings vibrant professional theatre and dramatic education beyond the boundaries of Boston, featuring world and regional premieres alongside fresh interpretations of familiar work. Within this setting, GBSC uniquely fosters the artists of tomorrow by providing ongoing performance and employment opportunities to a company of current and former students. Located in Stoneham, MA. GBSC produces five Mainstage shows, presents a series of Special Events, and runs year-round classes, lessons, and fully staged productions through The Young Company for students in grades 1–12.
395 Main Street
Stoneham, MA. 02180
# 781-279-2200
boxoffice@greaterbostonstage.org
greaterbostonstage.org
