All Ireland Winning Production
The Beauty Queen of Leeane
by Kevin O'Donnell
The Ennis Players Production of Martin McDonagh's 'The Beauty
Queen of Leeane' is simply an artistic experience that I
highly recommend.
The action of the play is set in Connemara, County Galway,
Ireland. Maureen Folan (Maura Walzer) is a lonely spinster
whose aging and manipulative mother Mag (Geraldine Greene)
interferes with Maureen's last chance for a loving relationship
with Pato Dooley (Jackie Scanlan). This interference and
also some bumbling by Pato's younger brother Ray (Joe Varden)
sets this dark comedy melodrama in motion. To detail the
plot is to detract from the experience. Consider instead
some of the ingredients that have won 'The Beauty Queen of
Leeane' and this Ennis Players' Production so many awards.
The Beauty Queen of Leeane was reportedly written in a matter
of days by author McDonagh. The author's voice is clear and
compelling. The set (Mick Kelly) is not just evocative, it
is completely authentic having been brought in its entirety
down to the kitchen sink, from Ireland. The accents of
the actors are so thick, the audience is forced to pay attention.
What could be construed to be a flaw in the production instead
becomes part of the intensity of the experience. The story
of 'Beauty Queen' is straight forward. There is no broken
structure, no prism plot points, or other plot complexities
common in theatre today. This production is perhaps even MORE
authentic than the author imagined it. Author McDonagh grew
up in London and only lived in the local of the play during
the summer. The actors of Western Ireland based Ennis Players
have all known their characters for a lifetime. These characters
are marginalized but proud people who all speak with such
a flair that it is the language that informs our perceptions
and drives the plot.
What we are informed of is an old theme of poisonous relationship
between parent and child, a theme well mined by Synge and
other Irish writers, but made much more interesting by McDonagh
by surprise after surprise that does not seem at all forced
or contrived. The specifics of the kitchen set, the action,
and the dialogue speak to an incredibly drab existence that
is made exciting by the language of McDonagh, the committment
by the actors to the emotional lives of their characters,
and the just right pacing of director Allen Flynn. There
is a sense of humor about the direst of events. Either laughter
or recoiling is perfectly appropriate for the same moment
and since all the characters are both appealing and flawed,
you do need to know who to root for.
Early in 'The Beauty Queen of Leenane' the phrase "the crux
of the matter' was bantered back and forth by daughter Maureen
and mother Mag. The crux of what makes a great play will
always be at least a little bit of a mystery. Critics just
hint around the edges.
Kevin O'Donnell
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