2025 remount of The Smuggler
Written by Ronan Noone
Jackalope Theatre
Jan. 14th - 26th, 2025
Tim Finnegan is a clever and enterprising Irish immigrant tending bar on the island of Amity, an affluent summer enclave off the coast of Massachusetts. When his child falls ill and he loses his job, Finnegan is drawn into the dark world that exists only in the shadows of the wealthy island. One part “Breaking Bad,” one part Beowulf, The Smuggler is a modern tale of corruption, morality and giant rats that asks what it means to call yourself a "citizen.”
“Sharp-edged, suspenseful and superbly realized... The Smuggler is a powerful experience, a work of high artistry that bleeds over into the real world, right now.”
- Newcity
“Small but mighty, The Smuggler showcases Theater at its best... Both hugely commendable and remarkable.
- City Pleasures
“You want a taste of old-school Chicago storefront theater delivered with a daredevil’s commitment to entertaining an audience..? Get yourself to Edgewater and strap in for the ride.”
- Chicago Culture Authority
★★★ OUT OF ★★★★
"The deftly penned story is intended to keep you guessing, and it does, and it asks an audience to ponder the intersection of poverty and desperation.. If, like me, you like this kind of cryptic storytelling, well, it’s always cooler by the lake.”
- Chicago Tribune
“The smuggler is a tour de force on all levels. Acting, writing, directing. This is masterful storytelling… Director Gus Menary masterfully orchestrates the storytelling. He combines Swanson’s talents and Noone’s narrative into a amusing yet powerful one man thriller.”
- The Fourth Walsh
“To have a one person show succeed to this very high level, one must have a perfect trifecta of author, director, and actor coming together to deliver their talent to an audience, and they do… It wouldn’t be possible without the brilliant director Gus Menary who brought together all of the artistic elements to this show in a seamless tapestry of accuracy, creativity, and most of all the achievement of keeping everyone’s attention for 75 minutes.”
- People & Places
Poster by Joel Maisonet and Jake Fruend / Photos by Joel Maisonet