“The Honey Trap”- Revenge is Not Easy—A Terrific Production

By Alix Cohen

Belfast today: American oral historian Emily (Molly Ranson) is interviewing middle-aged Dave (Michael Hayden) about the assassination of a friend and fellow soldier that occurred during The Troubles*. She’s articulate, patient, and invested. He’s aggressive, suspicious, and evasive.

When Emily refers to sharing “his truth”, Dave angrily corrects the pronoun- “It’s THE truth!” Asked why she’s a part of the project, the interviewer responds that her heritage is Irish. “It’s my blood and my culture,” she says proudly. “You have no idea how much trouble confused Americans cause,” he snaps suspicious of her objectivity. “Irish American money paid for IRA guns.”

Dave blackmails Emily into revealing some personal facts- ostensibly to ensure trust. He’s the only one who can add to what’s known about the incident. He could walk out. Every question reveals more about him than Emily. Amelioration only goes so far. “Have you ever gone out at night lookin’ for it?” he provokes.

The veteran’s motivation for cooperation is discovering who’s responsible for his friend’s death. Forty-five years later, he remains obsessed. There’s nothing he wouldn’t do to exact revenge. Interviews, however, are confidential.

1979 Green light. Smoke. Two soldiers, rifles variously aimed in alert.

Young Dave (Daniel Marconi) and his friend Bobby (Harrison Tipping) are stationed in Belfast. They’re tense, isolated, and under constant threat, navigating ambushes, civilian mistrust, and the psychological toll of urban guerrilla warfare. Irish nationalists see them as enforcers of occupation and contributors to escalating violence.

Dave bullies sweet, naïve Bobby into a night at a “Prosy” pub = Protestant, therefore seemingly safe. Both men are married. Dave is particularly physical with his buddy, which may indicate subtext. Nonetheless, he’s on the prowl. His friend has only agreed to a couple of drinks.

Two tough looking hairdressers, Kirsty (Doireann Ma Mahon) and Lisa (Anabelle Zasowski) seem willing despite Dave’s crass, clumsy banter. Despite being the instigator, Dave leaves (because he’s spoken to his wife? because the cat died?) convincing Bobby to stay and “get shagged.” Instead, the boy is murdered. They’d fallen into an IRA “ honey trap” – the girls had been bait.

Curiously, without seeming disjointed, the first act goes back and forth from interview to flashbacks, each time adding more background information. We learn things about the men’s relationship dynamics and what actually happened that change what’s been said.

Act II finds Dave following up on an illegally secured lead. He lies his way into friendly proximity of someone with information, setting his own honey trap. The two seem to really connect. A lot of time has passed. Dave hesitates, but like a programmed heat-seeking missile, surges on. Both denouement and ending are unexpected.

Beautifully written, The Honey Trap is initially a slow burn. Act I might be a bit shorter. Characters are distinctive. The compelling story peels away layers of truth and the seduction of revenge. To some, the latter is closure. Others are persuaded by empowerment to dispense justice. Consequences seem irrelevant. It’s a fascinating subject- especial now.

There isn’t a weak link in the cast, but Michael Hayden (Dave) and Samantha Mathis (Sonia) are riveting. Chemistry sizzles. Hayden is actually frightening.

Director Matt Torney, a Belfast native, discloses nothing before its time. History colors the present in ways we gradually understand. There’s not a false move or gesture on stage. Rage startles. Fear freezes.

Charlie Corcoran’s Sets are reliably evocative; Sarita Fellows’ Costumes just right for time, place, age, and economics.
Lighting by Michael Gottlieb takes us seamlessly back and forth from “now” to then.

*The Troubles: a violent, decades-long (late 1960s–1998) conflict in Northern Ireland involving republican and loyalist paramilitaries, the British state, and civil society, rooted in disputes over national identity, sovereignty, and civil rights.

Photos by Carol Rosegg
Opening: Annabelle Zasowski (Lisa), Doireann Mac Mahon (Kirsty), Harrison Tipping (Bobby), and Daniel Marconi (Dave)

The Honey Trap by Leo McGann
Directed by Matt Torney
Irish Repertory Theater
132 West 22nd Street https://irishrep.org/
Through November 9, 2025