St Patrick’s Drama Group will stage Tom Coffey’s Them in Scoil Padraig National Scoil, Altamount Street, Westport from Tuesday January 6 to Saturday January 10. This is a powerful production and certainly, an emotive one. This unique play demonstrates a sharp contrast between comedy and tragedy within its three acts. Them was first produced in 1963. It is set in 1960s Ireland, in a time when those with intellectual disabilities were seldom accepted as special people. Like the character of Johnsie in Tom Coffey’s play, who was an embarrassment and almost a nuisance to some, and simply misunderstood by others, these special people were not to be seen or spoken about.
The people of the town in which Johnsie lives do not understand him, the townspeople, who never appear in the play, are the titular Them. All the action of the play takes place in Brid Flaherty’s kitchen. Brid (Bronach Joyce ) is a widow, the mother of four grown-up children, including the central character, Johnsie (Paul Dunning ).
All of the characters’ lives are indelibly linked to Johnsie’s. His brother, Padraig (Liam MacNamara ), uses Johnsie’s disability to disguise his own inadequacies. Seamus (Ciarán MacSuibhne ) spends much of the time defending Johnsie, but betrays him when he needs him most. Johnsie’s sister, Maeve (Nuala Currid ), sees Johnsie as the sole reason why she is yet to be married, not accepting that perhaps her own personal insecurities may be to blame. This is evident in the first scene where we see Johnsie almost unconsciously and quite comically “vet” an eager suitor of Maeve’s (namely Joe Casey, played by Andrew Crowley ).
The central theme of the play, however, is responsibility. All her life, Brid has accepted responsibility for Johnsie. She has accepted who he is, nurtured him, supported him and defended him. Johnsie’s Uncle Sean (Lennie Grimes ), fulfills the role of father figure to Johnsie and confidante to his sister Brid. Johnsie is literally helpless in the face of the world and it’s all down to them not understanding what a special person he is.
Like most people, Johnsie needs little more than guidance and love to survive. Unfortunately for Johnsie, those who love him, those who should be responsible for him, are duly tested in this the most important of responsibilities, in the face of fear of Them. How will they deal with the narrow-minded perception of Them?
Guided by the expert hands of director Mary Carr and producer Regina McCormack, and acted by a cast comfortable and confident in their roles, this play promises to be wonderfully captivating. Don’t miss this show! It will be staged in Scoil Padraig National School on Altamount Street, Westport from Tuesday January 6 to Saturday January 10 2009 at 8.30pm nightly. For further details on tickets contact 086 860 9981.
