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Eric Cutler, left, as Jake and Gregory Lesch as Charley in the Actors Theatre Playhouse production of Marie Jones’ Irish comedy “Stones in His Pockets.”

Actors Theatre Playhouse presents Marie Jones’ Stones in His Pockets,“a brave vaudeville of the characters and comedy of rural Irish life,” say organizers. Performances are Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from Aug. 11 through Aug. 27, at 7:30 p.m. Marilyn Tullgren directs the production.

Set in rural County Kerry, Stones in His Pockets tells the story of how a small town becomes wrapped up in the glitz and glamour of Hollywood when the stars arrive to make a film and most of the locals are cast as extras.

Two local layabouts, Jake and Charley, played by Eric Morgan and Gregory Lesch, respectively, have been cast as two of the extras in a Hollywood movie—a shaft of light through the clouds of their dreary rural existence. These two actors play not only Jake and Charley, but also the multiple characters who populate the the Actors Theatre stage with a sassy variety of Irish locals and Hollywood icons.

Like most film sets, this one is rife with drama onstage and off, both hilarious and heartbreaking, as the American cast and crew try to immerse themselves in Jake and Charlie’s culture, and vice versa. When a tragedy occurs, the pair struggle to gain hope and insight as they forge ahead for new meaning and directions.

Stones in His Pockets premiered in Belfast in 1996 and went on to have a successful run in London’s West End. The original cast later took the show to Broadway. Having won the Irish Times/ESB Irish Theatre Award for Best Production in 1999, the play also won two Olivier Awards in 2001 for Best New Comedy and Best Actor, and has since been hailed world-wide with a multitude of sparkling and innovative productions.

Ticket reservations are highly recommended and are available online at the Actors Theatre Playhouse website, atplayhouse.org. All tickets are $17 which includes a two-dollar reservation processing charge. Visit the website for reservations and confirmations as well as playhouse information, production photos, reviews, comments, volunteer opportunities, and directions.

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Originally published in The Commons issue #676 (Wednesday, August 10, 2022). This story appeared on page B4.