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| Aisling O'Sullivan as Maureen Marie Mullen as Mag "The Beauty Queen of Leenane" by Martin McDonagh The Druid Theatre Company ArtsEmerson - Emerson Paramount Theater Through February 26 |
As I contemplate my experience in watching the current Druid Theatre Company production of "The Beauty Queen of Leenane" by Martin McDonagh, two thoughts predominate. The first thought is that the leadership team at ArtsEmerson is unparalleled in their genius for finding far-flung world class story tellers and bringing them to Boston for local audiences to enjoy. The second thought is that Irish playwrights may also be unparalleled in their ability to weave a tale that perfectly meshes comedy with chilling tragedy. Such is the case with Mr. McDonagh's script that explores themes of mother-daughter alienation, loneliness, bitterness, the craving to escape boredom, and the challenge of breaking the bonds of societal role expectations. This production comes to us in Boston after a very successful run at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.
The play first appeared on Broadway 20 years ago, and Director Garry Hynes, who helms this revival, was the first female director to win a Tony Award. To borrow a phrase from the script, she is the spoon who stirs together a remarkable cast, a quartet of actors who coalesce "without lumps" to tell this gripping tale. In the original Broadway and Off-Broadway productions, actress Marie Mullen won Tony and Obie Awards for playing the role of the daughter, Maureen. In this production, she now plays the role of the controlling and embittered widowed mother, Mag. The two roles offer very different challenges. Playing her repressed and reluctantly dutiful daughter is Aisling O'Sullivan. Maureen longs to fly off to Boston to start a life and perhaps a family, but she is the only daughter who can stand to be around the harridan that is Mag, so she is trapped into sharing a cottage and a life with a woman who plots every move and every word to be able to maintain tight control over her virginal 40 year-old former beauty queen daughter, who has had some mental health issues along the way. The Dooley brothers play significant roles in the story. Ray (Aaron Monaghan) is a socially awkward ne'er-do-well who serves as a messenger for Mag and Maureen, and his failure to strictly follow instructions has dire consequences. Pato (Marty Rea) is his older brother, recently returned from London for a visit. He and Maureen had eyes for each other many years ago when they were schoolmates, but neither had the courage to act on the attraction. Their attempt to make up for lost time is both laughable and poignantly tragic. A spark has been struck, but Mag plots to make sure that the spark never bursts into flame. She wants to keep Maureen around to be at her beck and call as she fades into senescence.
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| Marie Mullen as MagAisling O'Sullivan as Maureen Marty Rea as Pato "The Beauty Queen of Leenane" by Martin McDonagh The Druid Theatre Company ArtsEmerson - Emerson Paramount Theater Through February 26 |
The set and costumes by Francis O'Connor transport us to a rain soaked Old Sod. Lighting by James F. Ingalls and Sound by Greg Clarke help to establish the right tones, and original music by Paddy Cunneen completes the effect.
The writing is superb, the lilting rhythms of Irish dialogue painting a complex picture of frustration on every front. Boston looms as a haven to which Pato and Maureen long to escape. The acting is equally superb. An audience member who sits through this play without bursting into laughter, erupting with a gasp or two, and being moved to tears is simply not paying attention - to the script and to their heart.
The play runs at the Emerson Paramount through February 26. Do not miss this extraordinary treat.
ArtsEmerson Website
Enjoy!
Al
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