Irish language theatre company, Fíbín, is bringing its highly acclaimed version of the modern Irish classic and part of the Leaving Cert syllabus, An Triail, to the Dean Crowe Theatre on October 13. There will be two shows on offer, at 10.30am and 12.30pm.
The play consists of many scenes and characters and the action continues from one location to another at all times. Brendan Murray, the director of An Triail, decided to change the running order of the scenes and omit the confession scene entirely because of this. He felt it was not necessary and slowed down the action. He also cut out sections of the script in numerous scenes because they did not directly add to the story.
Due to the fact there are so many characters in An Triail and only four actors, all actors taking part, excluding Úna Ní Fhlatharta who undertakes the main role of Máire, will take on four or five roles each. Catherine Denning, Daithí O’Donnell and Eddie Mullarkey fulfill all the other roles. Puppets are also used to depict some of the mini-characters. This provides the production with an interesting variety and because the story is quite heavy and sad the actors use every opportunity afforded to them to inject comedy into the play.
Fíbín use masks and funny movements to relieve the audience from the heavy and complicated nature of the main story. Shadow puppetry is also a big part of the production. It gives the production a cinematic dimension which is both interesting and different. Máire is the only character depicted through a natural style of acting. All the characters she meets are stereotypes. The entire image is like a bad dream. There is a mixture of multi-disciplinary images and young audiences are guaranteed to enjoy it.
Members of Fíbín are doing a one-hour questions and answers session on Twitter live from An Taibhdhearc in Galway on Tuesday, October 25, at 2pm. Schools from across the country are encouraged to join in the conversation to help with their study of the play.
For educational support material visit www.fibin.com
Tickets for the performance on October 13 cost €12.50. Teachers go free.
