If you cross comedy, poignant monologue, and Kabuki theater, you might get "Forgotten," written and performed by Pat Kinevane, brought by Ireland's Fishamble Theatre, and playing at the Irish Arts Center. Kinevane weaves together the stories of four people, ages 80 to 100, in separate old-age facilities, not yet dead but outside of society.
It eventually becomes clear that their stories relate to one another. Kinevane uses a Japanese aesthetic and original music by Brian Byrne to "point" to emotional moments as in Kabuki theater. The Japanese and dance elements are as weird as they are fresh, bold choices in a show with a serious heart. Flor, a man, has Alzheimer's and stars in his head in television episodes that are accompanied by disco music. Though director Jim Culleton, Fishamble's artistic director, precisely orchestrates each sequence and emotional shift, differences between fantasy and reality are confusing, and so the fact that these episodes are imaginary is initially unclear.
Kinevane has charm and charisma, talking to the audience as different characters. Of welfare travel passes, Flor quips, "I will arise and go to Ennis. Free." Kinevane is particularly fine as the women: aristocratic Dora, who mourns her youthful loves, and cheeky Eucharia, once Dora's maid, who loves her Saturdays at the department store Arnott's. A glossary in the program translates Irish names and phrases (some in Irish), but many in the house chuckled in recognition.
Ultimately, though, the comedy is a setup for the sucker punch of the sadness of those forgotten while alive: Gustus is a stroke victim who speaks in voiceover, represented with a half mask on the back of Kinevane's head; his daughter left a birthday package for him without coming in. Flor, when cogent, begs to be allowed to wash himself. When he reminds us that it was the likes of him who built Ireland, "Forgotten" leaves a permanent scar.
Presented by Irish Arts Center in association with Georganne Aldrich Heller and Fishamble, the New Play Company, at Irish Arts Center, 553 W. 51st St., NYC. Feb. 19–March 7. Thu.–Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 3 p.m. (Additional performance Wed., March 3, 8 p.m.) (212) 868-4444 or www.smarttix.com.