Hinterland’s Playboy of The Western World comes to Brú Ború after sell-out shows in Carrick-on-Suir

Caption: Electra Grant, who plays Pegeen Mike, eyes up Christy Mahon, played by Robert Power with Michael James, played by David Shee looking on in the background. Picture Noreen Duggan 

There is another chance to see Hinterland’s excellent production of The Playboy of the Western World at Cashel’s Brú Ború on Friday, February 24 just before the cast embark on a month-long series of performances in six counties for the All-Ireland Drama Festival. 

The community theatre project wooed audiences at the Strand Theatre in Carrick-on-Suir with its exuberant interpretation of Synge’s famous and controversial play about a young man who gains admirers and notoriety in a rural  village  after boasting he has killed his father. 

All the main cast members were hugely impressive in their individual roles from Robert Power and Electra Grant playing the demanding leads of Christy Mahon and Pegeen Mike to Walter Dunphy as the fearsome Old Mahon, Pat Quinn-Bolger as the conniving Widow Quinn and Enda O’Driscoll as  pious Shawn Keogh.   

They are backed up by a very strong supporting cast of David Shee as Michael James,  Dennis Barry and Barry Comerford as Philly Cullen and Jimmy Farrell and the three youngest cast members Saoirse Murphy, Jordan Freeman and Jess Donovan, who are very convincing as the giddy young girls Susan Brady, Sara Tansey and Honor Blake. 

The Playboy is a difficult play for any amateur troupe to stage and do justice to due to the rich imagery of Synge’s Hiberno-English dialogue. But the Hinterland players carry it off with aplomb as an ensemble group. They are a shining example of how you don’t have to travel to the main cities to see top class acting. 

Mention must also be made of the production’s set. It’s evident that great care and thought went into its creation and there is a lot of attention to detail. And the whole production is enhanced by the accompanying live traditional music performed by  musicians Libby Grant, Irene Joyce, Al Power and David Grant.  

So if you love a night out at the theatre then you should get to Brú Ború on February 24 to see Hinterland’s next performance of The Playboy.

It takes place the night before the cast’s first performance in the All-Ireland Drama Festival at Kilmuckridge Drama Festival in Wexford on February 25.   

Brú Ború Manager Ronan O’Brien said they  are looking forward to hosting the play and are delighted to support community theatre groups like Hinterland. He points out tickets are already being snapped up for the show.  

The play starts at 8pm and tickets cost €15.  You can book tickets by calling the Brú Ború box office at (062) 61122 Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm or booking online via: www.bruboru.ie

Caption for photo below: Visiting from Inis Meáin to see J.M. Synge's The Playboy of the Western World at the Strand Theatre in Carrick-on-Suir on Saturday, January were Anne Howard, Stella Burkin, Marie Burkin and Colette and Ray Blackmore. Picture Anne Marie Magorrian.  More photos of the cast and people who attended the play are published in this week's edition of The Nationalist now in local shops.