Actor brings play on emigration home to Cork from New York

Ballincollig actor Mick Mellamphy is coming home for an Irish tour with his off-Broadway New York hit, The Smuggler.

Set on an affluent island in Massachusetts, the play centres on Irish immigrant Tim Finnegan, portrayed by Mellamphy, as he becomes entangled in the island’s criminal underbelly following a tragic accident that escalates conflicts between residents and migrant labourers.

The Irish tour of the production began in Kerry last week, and arrives at Cork Arts Theatre this week. Following that, it will travel to Belfast and Dublin.

Mellamphy, who is based in New York, first appeared in the award-winning play in 2019. Since then, it has been staged in various venues, but this is the first time it will tour outside the United States.

Mellamphy says he was initially drawn to The Smuggler due to its discussion of immigrants.

“As an Irish immigrant in New York for almost 25 years, I’ve received quite a bit of privilege because of my Irishness, because I speak English, because I assimilate easier,” he said.

“It always struck me when I would hear people talking about certain immigrants; I would remind them I’m an immigrant. Your parents were immigrants.

“There has always been a little bit of hypocrisy, so that’s something that jumped out at me about the play. It follows one guy’s journey, but through him we see how migrants can be mistreated.”

The play is produced by Jessica M. Delucia, who is also Mellamphy’s wife. She says she is interested in seeing how Irish audiences respond to it.

“We think it will resonate very well with Irish audiences. There is considerable discussion about the American dream and its meaning for people who are not living and working in the US,” she said.

“It has toured in several places in the US, and bringing it home to Ireland, we’re going to see different reactions.

“I’m just really excited to speak with Irish audiences about it and see how it hits.”

Mellamphy and DeLucia met in New York, but they later discovered that DeLucia has a Cork connection, as she explains.

“My family’s Italian American, but my great-grandmother immigrated from Macroom to America in the early 1900s, which is funny because that is where Mick’s parents moved to recently.”

The play’s director also has Irish roots. Conor Bagley, a two-time Tony Award-winning producer who worked at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin, holds dual US Irish citizenship.

“My great grandparents came from Clare, Roscommon, Limerick and Cork, so it is lovely to come to Ireland with this play,” said Conor.

“It has been a lovely delight with Mick. He plays several different characters from different parts of the world and different genders, and the dexterity of his voice has been a joy to help mould and sculpt with him.”

Mellamphy, who attended Scoil Barra and Coláiste Choilm in Ballincollig, started acting as a child and first appeared on stage at the Cork Opera House at the age of 10.

He has appeared in hit shows such as Law & Order and The Good Wife, voiced a prominent character in the Red Dead Redemption video game franchise, and is a prolific presence in the New York theatre scene.

“I worked in a Dublin bar where New York visitors would always talk about their city,” he said.

“I moved to New York in 2000, started bartending on the Upper East Side, and 12 years later bought a pub. Eight years after that, I realised the bar business wasn’t for me.”

While Mellamphy was bartending, he was also a working actor and producer. However, with some encouragement from his wife, he leapt full-time into acting.

“This beautiful woman, Jessica said, do you want to work until six in the morning in the bar, or do you want to give acting your all?

“She has been nothing but a brilliant support ever since. We have a wonderful community here in New York, full of Irish and immigrant artists who support one another. It is brilliant.”

Bagley agrees the Irish theatre community in New York is one of the best in the business.

“I don’t think I could exist in New York City as a director if I hadn’t had that real warm hug from the Irish theatre community. It’s so strong, it’s the best bonds with people you’ll ever have, and the level of the work is second to none.”

The Smuggler, by Irish American playwright Ronán Noone, has been adapted annually to reflect societal changes.

Mellamphy notes that elements from the original version of the play, once seen as make-believe, have now become reality due to shifts in U.S politics.

“It was very topical back in 2018, but it’s even more topical now because some things in 2018 I said to myself, this will never happen, now we’re in a state where we’re like, oh my god, it’s coming to pass.

“Updating keeps it current and allows the audiences to relate. It does engender a lot of feeling and starts conversations.”

DeLucia points out that, although this is a one-man show, it represents many characters.

“It is all presented by Mick, but there are important female voices in the story.

“It is a universal theme; there’s an Irish story, it’s about the American dream, but I think it’s important not just to pay attention to the cultural perspectives in the show, but the impactful gender perspectives too.”

The trio also stress that while the play deals with significant issues, there is also plenty of joy and humour.

As for the Ballincollig boy, what does Mellamphy think his younger self would think of his New York success story?

“I’ve always been proud of my career and the support I’ve had,” he said.

“You don’t achieve anything alone. Whenever I receive a cheque from Law & Order or another show, no matter the amount, I think of 10-year-old Mickey, who dreamed of performing on stage.

“That envelope from NBC or HBO - it’s a source of pride for me.”

The Smuggler comes to Cork Arts Theatre from July 16 to 19 - see https://corkartstheatre.com