The Quiet Men – Bewley’s Cafe Theatre – Review
by Brian Merriman

From February 23rd – March 14th, 2026 – Mon – Sat at 1pm.
(With a SOIRÉE PERFORMANCE at 7pm on Friday, March 6th)

Bewley’s Café Theatre hosts a family love letter in The Quiet Men. The great-grandnephew of the acting Shields family proudly celebrates his illustrious forebears, not just in the writing, but in a strong performance that testifies to the genetic truth of talent. It certainly runs in some families.

Writer and actor Morgan C Jones scripts and performs in the nostalgic homage to his great-granduncles Arthur and Will Shields. The latter being better known as Oscar Winner, Barry Fitzgerald. Jones shares a physical resemblance in stature to both men who left Ireland to star amongst Hollywood greats on screen and on stages from the Abbey in Dublin, via London and on celebrated Abbey tours of the US. They eventually returned to Dublin as they were both cast in the iconic “The Quiet Man”, also starring Dublin-born Maureen O’Hara.

This one-man show is a lovely insight into both men who achieved fame and admiration in such a competitive field at home and abroad. Arthur, who performed heroics during the Easter Rising in 1916, served time in Frongoch prison afterwards. He apparently hid his guns under the set in the Abbey and continued to play leading roles in the National Theatre until the 1930s. He had a varied love life in divorce-banned Ireland, and the freedom of the US allowed him to live as he chose.

Theatre today does so much good service to telling stories that could not be told while these people lived. Barry Fitzgerald also had to go to the US to live and love as he chose. He was in a relationship with Gus for twenty years and still had to feign a bachelor friendship despite their love and loyalty for each other. The script is still a bit scant on information and identity of this part of the story, while we learn a lot more about Arthur’s lovers. Perhaps that’s as Barry would have wished?

There is atmospheric screen footage used throughout to add to the sense of period and to allow for many well-handled costume changes as Jones plays all the roles.  Directed skilfully by Conall Morrisson, The Quiet Men is an informative revisit to the dignity and many artistic achievements of two talented Irishmen and the famous people they encountered on their lasting careers.

It is vital, as this generation stands on the shoulders of the artists of the past, that we are reminded of who they were and learn more about their lives, often hidden by the more conservative societal values of the times they lived in.

There was one glaring omission in this impressive hour of strong script and towering performance. It begged the question as to why we were not sitting in The Peacock learning of the achievements of some of those who built the Abbey?

But that is why Bewley’s is such an important venue. As Jones tells us stories which couldn’t be revealed during their lifetime, Bewley’s Café Theatre steps in to ensure that these stories are not only heard but honoured in an accomplished way today. This play would pack The Peacock, especially as US tourists descend on the National Theatre during their summer visits.

Perhaps someone will programme it there, because not only does the story of Arthur and Barry begin and belong there, but so does the calibre of the writing and performance of their talented descendant, Morgan C Jones.

The Quiet Men – Written & performed by Morgan C Jones
Directed by Conall Morrison
Duration 60 minutes