What Did Broadway Critics Think of Jez Butterworth’s London Hit The Ferryman?

The Ferryman, the latest work from acclaimed Jerusalem playwright Jez Butterworth, opens on Broadway October 21 at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre fresh off a hit London run where it won the 2018 Olivier Awards for Best New Play and Best Director.

American Beauty Oscar winner Sam Mendes directs the play that debuted at London's Royal Court Theatre in April 2017. Tickets to the anticipated world premiere sold out within 24 hours (the fastest-selling show in the Royal Court's history), prompting the announcement of a West End transfer before public performances had begun.

The Ferryman transferred to the West End's Gielgud Theatre in June 2017, where it was extended three times before concluding a year-long run in May of this year.

Much of the original London company are making their Broadway debuts with the production that began previews October 2.

The 30-member cast is led by Laura Donnelly, who repeats her Olivier Award-winning performance as Caitlin Carney, alongside Paddy Considine in his stage debut as Quinn Carney, and Genevieve O’Reilly as Mary Carney.

Set in rural Northern Ireland in 1981, The Ferryman takes place on the eve of the annual harvest as the Carney family prepares for a traditional night of feasting and celebration. The festivities come to a startling halt with the appearance of an unexpected visitor and revelations from the past.

Read reviews below. Check back for updates.

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Butterworth drew raves for his 2011 Broadway debut Jerusalem, an ambitious fusion of myth and modernity crowned by an electrifying performance from Mark Rylance. He returned to Broadway in 2014 with the atmospheric thriller The River, starring Hugh Jackman.

The Ferryman is the first theatrical project from Mendes and Butterworth, who previously collaborated on the screenplays for the Bond films Skyfall and Spectre.

The play was developed by Sonia Friedman Productions, who also delivered Butterworth's Jerusalem and The River to New York audiences. Friedman produces the Broadway run with Mendes' Neal Street Productions and the Royal Court.

FLIP THROUGH THE FERRYMAN OPENING NIGHT PLAYBILL

The cast also includes Dean Ashton, Glynis Bell, Peter Bradbury, Trevor Harrison Braun, Sean Frank Coffey, Will Coombs, Gina Costigan, Charles Dale, Justin Edwards, Fra Fee, Fionnula Flanagan, Tom Glynn-Carney, Carly Gold, Cooper Gomes, Holly Gould,Stuart Graham, Mark Lambert, Carla Langley, Matilda Lawler, Conor MacNeill, Michael McArthur, Willow McCarthy, Colin McPhillamy, Rob Malone, Dearbhla Molloy, Bella May Mordus, Griffin Osbourne, Brooklyn Shuck, Metta Mary Sofsky, Glenn Speers, Rafael West Vallés, and Niall Wright.

The Ferryman’s creative team is made up of Rob Howell (scenic and costume design), Peter Mumford (lighting design), Nick Powell (sound design and original music), Amy Ball CDG (U.K. casting), Jim Carnahan, C.S.A and Jillian Cimini C.S.A. (U.S. casting), Scarlett Mackmin (choreography), Tim Hoare (associate director), Benjamin Endsley Klein (resident director), Campbell Young Associates (hair, wigs, and makeup design), William Berloni (animal trainer), Terry King (U.K. fight director), Thomas Schall (U.S. fight director), Majella Hurley (U.K. dialect coach), and Deborah Hecht (U.S. dialect coach).

The producing team also includes Ronald Frankel, Gavin Kalin Productions, Roy Furman and Ben Lowy, Scott M. Delman, Stephanie P. McClelland, Tulchin Bartner Productions, Ron Kastner, Starry Night Entertainment, Kallish Weinstein Creative, Scott Landis,Steve Traxler, Richard Winkler, Rona Delves Broughton/William Damaschke, 1001 Nights, Burnt Umber Productions, Rupert Gavin, Scott Rudin, Jamie deRoy and Catherine Adler, Sam Levy and Lauren Stevens, and Ramin Sabi and Christopher Ketner.