Shining City

Along with Sarah Ruhl (see here), Minneapolis is also conducting alove affair with Irish playwrights. There was Martin McDonagh’s The Pillowman at Frank Theatre in September and Brian Friel’s tragic The Home Place,currently on stage at the Guthrie; now the Jungle Theater adds to thebleak themes put forth by Irishmen with Conor McPherson’s Shining City. Billed as a “ghost story for the holidays,” it’s certainly no Christmas Carol.John is a widower who seeks therapy when he starts seeing his wife’sghost everywhere. But his own past, and that of his troubled therapist,prove to be more haunting. Uplifting? Maybe not. But arresting?Probably so. What’s more, the play is directed by local favorite JoelSass, who also quietly assumed the title of associate artistic directorat the Jungle this past year. Rumor has it he’s being groomed tosucceed founding artistic director Bain Boehlke.

Jungle Theater, 2951 Lyndale Ave. S., Minneapolis; 612-822-7063; $24-$46.