Grade: B+

There is a long history of theater in Irish letters; Shaw, O'Casey, Sheridan, Behan and Lady Gregory come to mind. And there is, as well, a substantial body of work in film attempting to capture a slice of Gaelic culture by the likes of Ford, Huston, Lean and Howard. Character actor BarryFitzgerald managed to forge a 30 year Hollywood career playing "The Irishman."

Little wonder, then, that Marie Jones has merged the themes in "Stones in His Pockets," her story focusing on a dozen people working on a film in Ireland. The characters are almost stock: the starlet slumming with the locals to soak up a bit of "color," the director and his assistants, and the villagers cast as extras (including - the last surviving extra from 'The Quiet Man') many of whom long for the world of the Hollywood visitors.

The twist in this play lies in the fact that those dozen people are played by just two actors, George C. Heslin and J. Kennedy. With a somewhat disconcerting speed, a least in the first act, the pair slip from one character to another some 65 times over the course of the production, often providing some very funny lines with absolutely hysterical readings. Heslin is particularly effective as the starlet, and Kennedy does for the word "settle" what Carroll O,Connor did for the word "stifle." I swear that I had Brother Gerard for history in high school and you simply haven't experienced Irish dancing until you've been bludgeoned with it by Heslin and Kennedy.

But is in their primary roles as an itinerant from the North and a local farmer cast as extras, that the actors truly shine. While there is precision and consistency in every character they portray, only as Charlie and Jake are they given characters who grow through the production and it is the final resolution of those two characters that gives the play its depth and, ultimately, its meaning.

M. Burke Walker paces the action briskly, normally an asset to any production, but here it might help to slow things down a bit, certainly in the first act. The rapid changes in character, especially among the locals early on, leaves the audience with little opportunity to absorb what they've just seen and heard. The second act has the built in advantage of fewer changes and audience familiarity and seems better for it. Another beat or two in the early transitions may help the audience to a better appreciation.

Alex Koziara's sets and Jonathan Herter's sound are up to their usual superior standard, as are the costumes by Gretchen Darrow-Crotty and the lighting by Phil Monat.

"Stones in His Pockets" continues through Feb. 29 at Syracuse Stage, 820 E. Genesee St., at the intersection of Irving Avenue, in Syracuse.

For tickets and information call the box office at 443-3275. The play contains adult language and situations that may not be suitable for pre-teens.