“An Explosion by the Ballyseedy Woods” hits hard and leaves you feeling like you have been jerked 100 years back into unpleasant history.

Written, produced and directed by Ara Barlieb and featuring the reliably spellbinding cast of the Crowded Kitchen Players, the play continues through March 16, Charles A. Brown Icehouse, Bethlehem.

The opening night March 13 performance was seen for this review.

The play is the story of the women who suffered in the Irish “Troubles” and the manner that they were denied benefits by the ruling authorities.

Trish Cipoletti (Mrs. Duncannon), as secretary in the Military Services Pension Court, is moving as she pleads for justice in the face of implacable laws. She brings compassion to the role, portraying the difficult task of putting humanity into an inhumane bureaucracy.

David Oswald (Patrick Costello) is memorable in his role as the judge who can’t seem to mix mercy and justice with the letter of the law.

In one instance, it’s stated that a mother is not eligible for her dead son’s military pension because he was born to his mother out of wedlock; so no pension benefits to the destitute mom.

Oswald turns in a solid performance as the off-duty judge, trying to enjoy a drink at the pub when his unexpectedly bloody past comes back to haunt him.

Dan Ferry (Madigan) as the owner of Madigan’s Pub is terrific. When not dispensing drinks to his regular customers, he is breaking up their fights.

The pub scenes are especially fun as they are awash in spirits and revisionist history of the various battles of a merciless civil war.

Aiden King (Visitor) is great as a curious visitor from the United States who stirs up old, bitter memories in his quest to understand the history of his ancestral homeland, Ireland, and its bloody conflicts.

Daniel VanArsdale (Sean) shines as a rude, limerick-spouting troublemaker in Madigan’s Pub. Robert Tollinger (Jeremiah) and Bruce Brown (Denis) are fine as hangers-on who keep the bar propped up in the pub.

Sharon Ferry (Bridgid Maloney), Denise Sheldon (Bridgid Greedy), Pamela MacLean Wallace (Miss Skinnder) and Fiona Gallagher Sweeney (Mrs. O’Brien) all bring emotional, nuanced life to the women who are pleading their cases before the Pension Hearing Court.

Joey Mutis III’s (Musician) plaintive songs are especially compelling. Mutis is a master of his instrument and a superb vocalist. He set the scenes with traditional Irish ballads such as “The Soldiers of ‘22”:

“Brave Liam Lynch on the mountainside fell a victim to the foe/And Dinny Lacey for Ireland died in the Glen of Aherlow/Neil Boyle and Quinn from the North came down to stand with the faithful few/And we’ll sing their praise in the freedom days among the heroes of ‘22.”

Barlieb is credited with set design and set construction, which is beautiful in form and function as the action moves effortlessly from pub to hearing room.

The costumes reflect the working class of ordinary men and women who fight and die in any country’s wars. The Crowded Kitchen Player’s cast gets credit for costume selection.

Pamela McLean Wallace is the show’s co-producer.

“An Explosion by the Ballyseedy Woods,” 7:30 p.m. March 13, 14, 15; 2 p.m. March 16, Charles A. Brown Ice House, 56 River St., Bethlehem. 610-704-6971, https://ckplayers.com/