The rigid definition of masculinity, and its grave consequences to men’s psyches are the play’s themes. A father and son clash violently on a set marked by ricks of domestic rubbish that threaten to topple at a touch; like the men themselves, overladen with unexamined memories and unexpressed emotions. Guilt and recrimination trigger a frightening release of pent-up energy, and the two men circle each other in turns as stalker and game. The father, crippled by sorrow for the violence of a half-lived past, commands both terror and respect, while the son, with his own demands, counters his father’s scramble for dignity.
Reviews
“The ideas expressed here are both exhilarating and cathartic. This is speech at its most theatrically extreme. One leaves Theater For The New City not knowing whether to go home, or out for a stiff drink.” -Ricky Spears, In Theater, New York City, November 28, 1997.
“This disturbing, ritualized, pas de deux is written by Barry, who seems to have taken lessons in domestic nightmare from Edward Albee.” -Helen Meany, The Irish Times, October 12, 2000, Dublin, Ireland.
“BACK WHEN-BACK THEN is an astonishing play. It is imbued with a lyricism all but banished from an American stage frozen in naturalism.” -Stephan Silvis, Willamette Weekly, Portland, Oregon, February 11, 1997.
“The tension … bounces between a soft, ethereal self-awareness, and a harsh verbal violence… The language is rich and elliptical.” -Barry Johnson, The Oregonian, Portland, Oregon, February 11, 1997.
“Barry has a terrific ear for dialogue, and some of the writing is more poetry than prose.” -Mark Arnest, Gazette Tele-graph, Colorado Springs, May 20, 1994.
“BACK WHEN BACK THEN shifts effortlessly from black humor to lyricism, from skittishness to menace, a disturbing, ritualized, pas de deux, deserving of four stars.” -Helen Meany, The Irish Times, October 12, 2000, Dublin, Ireland.
“The frankness of Raymond Barry’s play, BACK WHEN – BACK THEN, both in presentation and message is most refreshing compared to the touchy-feely psychodrama we often see in our theaters today – Critics’ Choice.” -Chad Jones, The Oakland Tribune, Magic Theater, San Francisco, September 28, 1997.
“BACK WHEN – BACK THEN is a study of rage, and Barry does his best writing when he puts you inside the mind of someone who’s out of control. It’s an evening of theater you won’t forget.” -Mark Arnest, Gazette Telegraph, Colorado Springs, May 20, 1996.
Productions
ANDREW’S LANE THEATRE, DUBLIN, IRELAND, SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER, 2000:
ROBERT Tom Draper
FATHER Father-Raymond J. Barry
Artistic Director Pat Moylan
Administrator Laura Condon
Producer Myra Donnelley
Design Markus Maurette
THEATRE FOR THE NEW CITY, NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, NOVEMBER, 1997:
SON Tom Draper
FATHER Raymond J. Barry
Artistic Director/Producer Crystal Field
Producers Myra Donnelley, David Arrow, John Goodman
Director Martha Gehman
Design Markus Maurette
MAGIC THEATRE, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA; JUNE, 1997:
ROBERT Tom Draper
FATHER Raymond J. Barry
Artistic Director Maime Hunt
Producers David Arrow and John Goodman
Director Martha Gehman
Design Markus Maurette
ARCADE THEATRE, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, NOVEMBER, DECEMBER 1996:
ROBERT Tom Draper, Jack Black
FATHER Raymond J. Barry
VALOIS Kim Gillingham
Artistic Directors Michael Patrick King, Tracy Poust, Dan Bonnel
Director Michael Patrick King
Set/Lights Michael Patrick King
SMOKEBRUSH CENTER FOR THE ARTS, COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO, MARCH/APRIL, 1996:
ROBERT Jack Black
FATHER Raymond J. Barry
VALOIS Kim Gillingham
Artistic Director Kat Walter
Director Gregory Wagrowski
Design Markus Maurette
STARK RAVING THEATRE, PORTLAND, OREGON, MARCH, 1997:
ROBERT Tom Draper
FATHER Raymond J. Barry
Artistic Director David Demke
Producing Director Myra Donnelley
Director Martha Gehman
Design Markus Maurette
CARMEL FESTIVAL, CARMEL, CALIFORNIA, JULY 1997:
ROBERT Tom Draper
FATHER Raymond J. Barry
Director Martha Gehman