"Making a Show of Myself," written and performed by Mary Kate O Flanagan and directed by Will O’Connell, presents the power of storytelling.
The phrase “making a show of myself” is often used as a colloquialism for embarrassing behavior, but here O Flanagan turns it into an entertaining and moving presentation of her personal stories.
Appearing at the W. Scott McLucas Studio Theater at the Irish Rep—a black box space that serves as a cozy setting for intimate storytelling—the production features a bare stage with black curtains and walls. O Flanagan emerges confidently and, for approximately 75 minutes, holds the audience’s rapt attention.
Her six vignettes cover growing up in Ireland and her close-knit family; comically bad experiences with internet dating; sad but heartfelt remembrances of her father; volunteering during the migrant crisis in France in 2016; and losing her voice due to undiagnosed trauma.
Delivered bravely, each story begins with her belief that “stories begin when things go wrong.” In her telling, there is always a beginning, middle, and end. (Her explanation of her story process recalls Christopher Vogler’s acclaimed work on mythic story structure.) At the conclusion of each tale, there is a gift—sometimes a surprise, sometimes a realization, sometimes an unexpected resolution, and sometimes a sadness born of heartfelt loss. For the audience, the gift is hearing O Flanagan’s stories.
Her memories of Irish life resonate deeply: leaving Ireland to seek work (in her case, London); Irish undertakers insisting that only men can carry a coffin; convent schools for girls; the closeness of families with multiple generations living together; and mystical messages appearing on cell phones from departed loved ones.
Mary Kate O Flanagan in "Making a Show of Myself" at the Irish Rep. (Carol Rosegg)
The show began as a storytelling broadcast on The Moth but has grown through O Flanagan’s skill and ease as a performer—relaxed, yet able to perfectly land each moment. The production embraces the seanchaí, the Irish tradition of passing stories from generation to generation. O Flanagan goes one step further by incorporating her grandmother and mother into her tales. One story begins before World War II, involving a German POW in Manchester, and ends decades later with a reflection on her grandmother’s kindness.
Director Will O’Connell guides the pace of the show with minimal effects. A subtle lighting change signals the beginning of each of the six stories. At the conclusion of each, O Flanagan offers a slight curtsy—an especially lovely touch in such an intimate space. One story runs longer than the others, necessarily so, to explain the twists, turns, and bureaucracy of international relief efforts.
Although O Flanagan professes that “stories begin when things go wrong,” in this case, her stories make for very good theater.
"Making a Show of Myself" runs at the Irish Repertory Theatre in New York City through March 1. Tickets and additional information are available here.
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