By Alix Cohen
“It is only in the shelter of our neighbors that we all can live.”
Parcel From America is a home-stiched sampler manifesting the best Irish clichés: tradition, family, and community. Narrator, adult Sean (Michael Grennell, with resonant gravitas), recalls childhood in rural West County, Limerick. In the 1950s, poor soil and limited employment opportunities made it difficult for country Irish families to earn a living. Dependent on subsistence farming or irregular agricultural work, many emigrated. Sean came to America.
The memory play describes an area filled with Kellys. Those struggling at home pray for holiday gifts from relatives in America – gently used clothing, a tin of cookies, or an envelope of dollars.
Young Sean (Aidan McCracken) and his family look forward to Christmas, enjoying modest customs, making the best of what they have. Imagine Truman Capote’s A Christmas Memory in The Emerald Isle. His father (Gregg Goodbrod) and grandmother (Úna Clancy) keep things cheerful.
Mick Mellamphy and Aidan McCracken with Adam Huel Potter, Gregg Goodbrod, Clare O’Malley,.Andrea Lynn Green.
The entire village congregates at every appearance of Mailman Davey (an excellent Michael Mellamply) This time of year, he’s often gifted a bottle of stout by those who receive mail. A stand out number is one in which Davey grows increasingly drunk while regaling everyone with what everyone else has received.
Sean’s family are neighbors to widow Bridge (Alex Sharpe- lovely voice) who’s doing her best to raise “dotey” (dear) son, Liam Óg (Ethan Jack Haberfield) around whom her world revolves. The young man is known to be whiny, obstreperous, and ungrateful. Scrimping, his mam has managed to secretly buy him a Rally Royal Roadster (bicycle) for the upcoming holiday.
One day Bridge wakes to find her son, her cow, and the bicycle gone with not so much as a note. The grapevine has discovered him in a neighboring town, but he predictably makes no effort to communicate.
In hopes of cheering her up, Sean predicts she’ll surely receive a “parcel” from Liam Óg at Christmas. She does not, but the Kellys see to it she has a happy Noel.
Serena Parrish, Clare O’Malley, Aidan McCracken, Una Clancy
Scenic Design (Harry Feiner) presents rustic cottages. An evocative water-colorish backsplash of sweeping hills and sky is enhanced by Lighting/Projection by Joey Moro.
Costumes (Debbi Hobson) emerge in cozy muted colors and country layers.
Barry McNabb’s céilí circles create jaunty, folksy dances.
Director J.R. Sullivan doesn’t exercise much imagination, but vocals are appealing, actors companionable.
The musical is two plus hours of pleasant, if unmemorable songs, appealing harmony, and able players with almost nothing happening; a warm bath in which one might find respite.
Photos by Russ Rowland
Opening- Michael Grennel, Alex Sharpe and the company
Parcel From America– The Irish Musical
Music – Malcolm Hillgartner & Kevin Corcoran
Book/Lyrics – Jahnna Beecham, Malcolm Hillgartner, Michael J. Hume Based on the story by Tomáseen Foley
Directed by J.R. Sullivan
Through November 22, 2026
Theater Row 410 West 42nd Street
https://parcelirishmusical.com/
