When the radio version of John McDwyer’s play, United, was performed on RTE, it was so well received that it was repeated within a month and the stage version is proving to be just as popular. Beezneez opened this tour to three standing ovations in Longford and the production is ranking with the best ever produced by this consistently excellent company. United now plays in Roscommon Arts Centre on Tuesday and Wednesday November 8 and 9 at 8pm.
United charts the life of an Irish rural family over 50 years from 1958 and examines how the dreams and plans of the parents are sidelined by events outside of their control and by their responses to the actions of their children.
When the widowed matriarch of the family dies, her children assemble for her funeral and, over the space of the funeral days, sins and secrets are exposed leading to conflict until the family negotiate themselves to a position of becoming, once more, united.
United is McDwyer’s most serious work for some time and has little of the raw humour usually associated with his work. It is a loving work, told with great care and with a real empathy for the times when the events happened. Its eight characters see Beezneez introduce four new actors from Longford and the remaining parts are taken by Beezneez regulars, Noreen Hawkins, Cathy Maidment, Eileen Murphy, and by the author himself.
The visit to Roscommon Arts Centre is part of an eight-venue, 21-performance national tour. United is a production which will live long in the memory and should not be missed. Booking is open at (090 ) 6625824.
