At the Shaw Festival, Brian Friel’s play about an Irish family dealing with dysfunction and the Great Depression is a mixed bag. The family is made up of five sisters who squabble a lot. The “glue” that keeps the family together is Kate, a teacher at the local Catholic school. She provides most of the income for the family. Katie’s younger sister, Christina, had an illegitimate child (who functions as a narrator). Katie’s other younger sister, Rose, has mental issues. Their older brother, Father Jack, spent 20 years as a missionary priest in Africa, but is sent home to Ireland because he “went native” and is suffering from malaria. Maggie, the most energetic and fun-loving sister, provides the narrator with riddles and the audience with her spontaneous humor and dancing.
As you can see, this struggling family fights against difficult odds. A movie version of Dancing at Lughnasa featured Meryl Streep as Kate and Michael Gambon as Father Jack. Be prepared for sadness and tragedy if you decide to see Dancing at Lughnasa. GRADE: B+
I saw the play and movie and indeed, in these times, it is hard to watch. Almost all Irish plays share this quality. Perhaps almost all serious plays in general. Very hard to write lightly anymore.
Patti, there are some funny moments in DANCING AT LUGHNASA but the ending is bleak. Ireland was not a good place to be during the Great Depression.
We need new playwrights who follow in Neil Simon’s steps.
Rick, I agree. Where are the Noel Cowards and Neal Simons of the Millennial Generation?
No sadness and tragedy for me, thanks. I have enough problems of my own.
I hear that. Anything likely to be sad or depressing is a “no” for me.
Bill, after someone sees DANCING AT LUGHNASA all their problems fade in the face of this Irish family’s tragedies.
What George said. It was a real downer. I prefer Friel’s early, much lighter, PHILADELPHIA, HERE I COME!
Jeff, PHILADELPHIA, HERE I COME! was a hundred times brighter than the dark DANCING AT LUGHNASA!