BULGER BOYS

Am I my brother’s keeper? This is the perennial theme that runs through Joe Coffey’s solo performance of Bulger Boys – the true story of two brothers, William and James “Whitey” Bulger. While both brothers embody the ‘Fighting Irish’ spirit, their lives take them down completely different paths; one enters politics, the other a life of crime. Yet, the bond of brotherhood is never broken. No props, just subtle lighting and raw emotion reveal a family dynamic that pulls the audience into each and every scene. With his authentic Boston accent and ability to play a menagerie of characters, Coffey takes the audience through the streets of Southie to the inner corridors of city politics. Coffey skillfully weaves in Boston’s controversial busing la... full review

Great show and fantastic work by Joe Coffey! Powerful and well acted. ... full review

Joe is coiled intensity in this fascinating history lesson of two brothers on divergent paths. Joe's ability to switch roles at lightening speed makes for electrifying dialogue and a consistently engaging story. Bravo!... full review

Bulger Boys is a fantastic, intense, powerful show performed by the always-brilliant Joe Coffey, who also wrote it. We sat center, front row and could experience the pain and rage of the characters radiating off of him. This is a beautiful portrayal of two brothers and the dysfunctional family dynamics when politics and crime intersect. I highly recommend you check this out, if you haven't already.... full review

This was just a great show, start to finish. I love the journey of the story and the execution of the actor, Joe Coffey. I walked away feeling satisfied after a great night of theater. My hat goes off to Joe for telling a great story in a riveting fashion. Lots of talent on display here! ... full review

Riveting. Electric. Completely enthralled. What an impressive show. Mr. Coffey sends pulses through the crowd. He takes you for a ride and doesn't let you go. You can tell the story struck a chord in the artist's life, you can see it in the eyes. A must see.... full review

Joe did a prolific job portraying multiple highly complex characters within the Bulger family unit and not to mention the grandmother neighborhood watch lady who is Bulger’s insider at one point in the play. His talented ability to navigate going in and out of characters truly set the bar high for this festival. It was all around a riveting as well as soul provoking original play. Right down to the beautiful Irish ballads to contrast the heavy nature of crime scene investigation. Look forward to seeing what creative work of his comes next! :)... full review

What a great experience to see Bulger Boys at the Hollywood Fringe Festival. This solo play featured raw emotion and writing that echoed Mean Streets and Raging Bull. Joe Coffey seamlessly moves from one character to another in a story he clearly identifies with. ... full review

Loved it... Joe did a fantastic job!!... full review

A masterclass in solo-show acting! Joe seamlessly transitions from character to character without the need for any major costume or lighting gimmicks to assist. In a split second his face starts to change and you know exactly which character is re-emerging. A thrilling feat of athleticism and empathy.... full review