Reminiscent of Come from Away, this is a tale of a community of townspeople — in this case, a family in a rural part of Western Ireland – who put aside their own needs to help another.
It’s not only the story that captivates, but the presentation by an accomplished cast from Ireland and the U.S.; an international ensemble of award-winning musicians who create the Irish ambience; and a set design team who transports audiences to the land of green fields, thatched cottages, turf bogs, and vine-covered stone walls.
Musicians ready to play at “house left”
It’s about two families who live in a small Irish parish where the majority share the popular Kelly surname. There’s the local priest who joins in on town issues; and the postman, revered almost as much as the priest, whose deliveries of letters and packages from American relatives is cause for celebration.
As Christmas draws near, the narrator is remembering a story from when he was a boy growing up near County Limerick in the 1950s. Multiple generations live under one roof, so we have the wisdom of the grandmother, the daily struggles of the farming parents, and the exuberance of the two children. When one of their neighbors suffers a debilitating setback, all must choose whether to act according to one of their beloved adages, “it is only in the shelter of our neighbors that we all can live.”
A town near County Limerick
The powerful cast is led by the narrator, Michael Grennell of the Abbey Theatre and Game of Thrones who serves as the bridge between the storytelling and the stage action. We have the 1950’s townspeople featuring engaging performances by Alex Sharpe, Gregg Goodbrod, and Mick Mellamphy and a roster of talented fellow actors who keep us firmly rooted in a town near County Limerick in the weeks before Christmas.
Kudos to the musicians who perform at “house left” and with great regard for traditional foot-tapping Irish melodies. Watch them work their magic on the bouzouki, mandolin, bodhran, fiddle, whistle, flute, and uilleann pipes.
Parcel from America is a story inspired by “the history of Irish emigration and the cherished parcels filled with gently used clothing and much-needed dollars sent by loved ones from across the Atlantic.”
Limited engagement, running through November 22, 2026
Parcel Irish Musical
Theatre Row, 410 West 42nd Street, New York, NY
Photos by MJ Hanley-Goff
