Actor Matthew Broderick stated that American audiences were often left perplexed by the intricate questions of Northern Irish and British identity at the heart of the dark comedy Ulster American. According to an interview with Brendan O’Connor on RTÉ Radio 1, the 64-year-old performer made the remarks ahead of the play’s upcoming run at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin.
Bringing Ulster American to the Abbey Theatre Stage
Written by Belfast playwright David Ireland and directed by Ciarán O’Reilly, Ulster American features a cast comprising Matthew Broderick, Max Baker, and Geraldine Hughes, as documented in production materials featuring images by Carol Rosegg. Broderick previously performed the production during its New York run. Despite that experience, he admitted to Brendan O’Connor that the anxiety preceding a fresh audience remains acute.
“The first time doing a play in front of an audience, the nervousness is very real,” Broderick said on RTÉ Radio 1. “For me anyway, it’s shaky hands and all that. It’s quite a lot of adrenaline that first night.” The production is scheduled to run at the Abbey Theatre from August 12 to August 22.
Navigating Identity Politics and Entitled Hollywood Egos
The narrative centres on a tense encounter between an Ulster-born playwright, an English director, and an American actor named Jay Conway—played by Broderick—on the eve of scheduled rehearsals begin. Broderick described the premise to Brendan O’Connor by noting that the interaction starts amicably before deteriorating rapidly into “about as awful a first meeting as you could picture.”
Did you know? Matthew Broderick’s character, Jay Conway, is an entitled Hollywood star whose confidence frequently outpaces his grasp of the complex geopolitical themes he attempts to discuss. When asked if the depiction is unfair to Hollywood actors, Broderick joked to RTÉ Radio 1, “I’m tempted to say you’re looking at one.”
Broderick noted that while most professional actors he has collaborated with are exceptional, he recognizes the specific archetype of young stars who lack self-critical faculties. “These youngsters who are told everything they do is brilliant and right, they kind of develop a personality that they’re not self-critical,” he told Brendan O’Connor. “They get some weird ideas.”
American Audiences and the Complexities of Northern Irish Identity
A central dramatic tension in the script involves identity politics in Northern Ireland, specifically the fictional playwright’s insistence on identifying as British rather than Irish. Broderick explained to RTÉ Radio 1 that this distinction frequently baffled theatergoers during the New York engagements.
“American audiences were often very perplexed,” Broderick said. “It’s not the usual argument about the North that we hear in the United States. It’s not from the Republic point of view, and people aren’t very familiar with that in New York. She keeps insisting she’s British. ‘Not Irish, I’m British,’ which my character absolutely cannot follow or comprehend. But I think people here will know what she’s talking about.”
A Lifelong Personal Connection to Donegal
Beyond his stage work, Broderick shared deep-seated personal ties to County Donegal that began during his childhood. According to his interview on RTÉ Radio 1, his parents discovered the county while traveling around Ireland when he was approximately nine or ten years old, eventually purchasing a home there after multiple summer rentals.
Growing up in Greenwich Village in New York, the young Broderick experienced a dramatic shift in lifestyle across the Atlantic. “The first place we rented didn’t have electricity. It was gas lights, which are really fun when you’re little,” he recalled. Fond memories include working with local neighbours to turn hay in the fields, spending entire days outdoors with boiled eggs and a pot of tea. Broderick continues to visit Donegal regularly alongside his wife, Sarah Jessica Parker—whom he married in 1997—and their family.
The upcoming performances at the Abbey Theatre also hold generational resonance for the actor. His late father, James Broderick—who passed away in 1982 just as his son’s acting career commenced—held a strong affection for the county and enjoyed watching Gaelic football in Cill Charthaigh. “He would have loved that,” Broderick told Brendan O’Connor regarding his appearance at the Abbey. “He would have loved to have worked at the Abbey. That would have meant a lot to him.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the plot of Ulster American?
The dark comedy follows a volatile first meeting between an Ulster-born playwright, an English director, and an entitled American movie star on the night before rehearsals begin, exploring clashing cultural perspectives and identity.
Who stars in Ulster American at the Abbey Theatre?
The production stars Matthew Broderick, Max Baker, and Geraldine Hughes, directed by Ciarán O’Reilly and written by Belfast playwright David Ireland.
When is Ulster American running in Dublin?
The play runs at the Abbey Theatre from August 12 to August 22.
What connection does Matthew Broderick have to Ireland?
Broderick has vacationed in County Donegal since his childhood in the 1970s, a tradition he continues today with his wife, Sarah Jessica Parker, and their family.
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