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During a 2004 interview for British newspaper, Guardian Unlimited, Marie Jones said, “I still write plays about us.” She was referring to her fellow Irishmen and no matter his or her religion or residence, she draws from her roots and uses her knowledge and up inging to produce authentic portrayals of what it means to be Irish. Her writing is highly valued as it deviates from the Hollywood stereotype that many foreigners trust as the true interpretation of Irish culture.
Before taking a stab at acting and later, becoming a noteworthy playwright, Jones was a young girl in a working class family living in religious-torn Belfast, Ireland. Today, she earns her living by telling the stories of her compatriots. In 1991, Stones in His Pockets debuted on stage at the DubbelJoint and three years later, won two Laurence Olivier Awards, one for Best New Comedy and another for Best Actor, played by Conleth Hill. The same year, the play was nominated for three Tony awards. To date, 20 countries have seen this production and it has been translated into 16 different languages.
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The play wins audiences over with its two stars, Charlie Conlon and Jake Quinn, who serve as movie extras for the intruding Hollywood crew and perform a total of 15 different characters, alternating genders, voice, and dress to accommodate a stunningly humorous story line.
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So how did a global sensation land a spot on a local Annapolis stage? “It had been and still remains my greatest passion,” says Lund. More precisely, Lund's passion is “the production and direction of plays that promote the inherent worth and dignity of all people in a minimalist, actor/director centered style.”
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Lund further explains how his relationship with the Unitarian Universality Church of Annapolis evolved. A church member for three years, Lund, along with Bryan Barrett and Sue Struve, founded Dignity Players in 2004. “I was able to expand [my] relationship when the church ministers agreed that a theatre group that presented socially conscious plays in line with the UU principles would benefit the church and Annapolis communities,” says Lund. Dignity Players is all-volunteer organization dedicated to producing plays and musicals that “inspire action on social issues pertaining to the rights of all people, regardless of race, gender, creed, religion, or sexual orientation,” as described on the theatre's website.
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For information on show times and ticket prices, call 410-266-8044 or visit dignityplayers.org.
