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Critics Praise Performances, Call First Act Confusing in “A Slow Fire”

8/28/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Ross Gaynor stars as Ashton, a professor mapping a ruined city, in A Slow Fire.
Ian Toner plays Reece, a porter who enacts hopeful memories.
Fionn Ó Loingsigh appears as Presley, a gun-bearing survivor.
Director Rex Ryan stages the two-hour production from 20 August to 26 September 2026, with fast-paced staging.
Critics praise performances but describe the first act as confusing and slow, noting themes of hope, male friendship, masculinity.

History

Historical Context

Harold Pinter wrote The Homecoming in 1964; it opened at London’s Aldwych Theatre on 3 June 1965 under director Sir Peter Hall and won four Tony Awards after its 1967 New York debut. Its stark power struggles sparked ongoing debate about masculinity, a legacy echoed in Rex Ryan’s 2026 speculative production A Slow Fire on stage.

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Story summary

Ross Gaynor stars as Ashton, a professor mapping a ruined city, in A Slow Fire.
Ian Toner plays Reece, a porter who enacts hopeful memories.
Fionn Ó Loingsigh appears as Presley, a gun-bearing survivor.
Director Rex Ryan stages the two-hour production from 20 August to 26 September 2026, with fast-paced staging.
Critics praise performances but describe the first act as confusing and slow, noting themes of hope, male friendship, masculinity.

1 / 2