October 17, 2018
Page 7
Arts &
ENTERTAINMENT
Clara-Liis Hillier and James
Dixon star in ‘Hurl,’ a play
about a diverse group of
immigrants, refugees and
asylum seekers who triumphed
in the face of historical,
societal and personal
obstacles. Now playing through
Oct. 26 at New Expressive
Works, 810 S.E. Belmont.
Triumph
over
Obstacles
Story embraces
diversity of
immigrants
Portland’s Corrib Theatre presents
‘Hurl,’ a play about a group of immi-
grants of color, refugees and asylum
seekers who triumphed in the face of
historical, societal, and personal ob-
stacles.
The story follows a team of play-
ers from Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Cuba,
Bosnia, Vietnam, Argentina, and in-
ner-city Dublin, who formed to com-
pete in the very traditional and an-
cient Irish sport of hurling.
Led by an alcoholic priest and a
washed-up trainer, the team battles
discrimination and bureaucratic bar-
riers to make its way to the All-Ire-
land finals. With humor, wit, and
energy, Hurl explores what it means
to be Irish in a county that has gone
through a seismic shift, moving from
a homogeneous to a diverse society
as migrants from other countries
sought safety and opportunity.
“I wrote Hurl because I am pas-
sionately interested in the positive
power that difference brings,” said
playwright Charlie O’Neill.
Hurl is now playing through Oct.
28 at New Expressive Works, 810
S.E. Belmont.