After many successful years of wowing audiences with their extravagant variety performances, Mullingar Charity Variety Group Players are now extending their repertoire and staging their first play, The Beauty Queen of Leenane. This play is written by Martin McDonagh who also wrote and directed the BAFTA award-winning film In Bruges.
Set in rural Ireland the play centres on a dysfunctional relationship between a spinster (Maureen ) and her domineering mother (Mag ).
Their home is visited by Pato Dooley and his brother Ray. Pato brings a glimmer of hope for a chance at romance for the long-suffering Maureen. Ray Dooley, a nonthreatening bad boy, acts as an unwilling messenger between Maureen and Pato. This gripping and emotional story will have all audience members enthralled throughout with its dark humour and intense melodrama.
This production is directed by Alan Conroy, who may be better known to local audiences for his numerous outstanding onstage performances. Alan is thrilled to have the very talented Gillian Flynn competently taking on the role of his assistant director. Ray McDonnell, one of the founding members of Mullingar CVG is responsible for set construction. As always, Ray and his team are working tirelessly with the nuts and bolts to bring the design to life.
The mother Mag is played by the wonderful Jean Hynes. This is Jean’s much-anticipated return to the stage after a seven year break. Jean has earned the respect of local audiences over the years and in this performance she will no doubt yet again excel. Her daughter Maureen is played by Clare O’Sullivan, a native of west Clare and teacher in Castlepollard Community College. Clare brings this complex character to life with her natural charm. Richie Geoghegan most successfully takes on the role of Maureen’s love interest Pato Dooley. Richie is very well known to Mullingar audiences most notably for his roles in A Slice of Saturday Night and more recently The Producers. Richie’s transition from musical theatre to drama is seamless. His younger brother Ray is played by Karl Magee. Karl is no stranger to performing as he has many years experience in musicals and is a long-standing member of Mullingar Town Band. Audience members are in for a treat as Karl provides comic relief with his infectious exuberance.
The Beauty Queen of Leenane is showing at The Bloomfield House Hotel, Mullingar on February 14-16. Tickets are priced at €10 and are available from Wilfs, Castle Street, Mullingar and the booking office on (086 ) 3911831.
Doors open 7.30pm with curtain at 8pm. Over 16s advised.
