Past Productions

Examiner Newspaper

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Review by Anne Lucey

Four stars awarded

A PLAY'S the thing to stir the conscience - and the laughter- of a sea-side town, it seems. The device of a play within a play by Lennox Robinson's Drama at Inish is, of course, pure Hamlet, creating mayhem among the play's internal audience who see too much of themselves on the fictional stage.

But the Beehive Theatre production of this 1930's farce takes the device one step further, to the hilarity of the audience who have been packing the productions. In Dingle there is, it seems, "a play without the play".

Many in the audience were well aware of the politician among them who, much like the TD character of stage, has not always agreed with the government pary. There were other similarites with Dingle too: the sea-side setting; the complaints about the weather; and the clever and ultimately funny handling of the subject of suicide, which is as common in West Kerry as elsewhere now.

When a baby in the audience cried at the arrival of an empty cradle on stage the confusion was complete.

Fed up with all the introspection prompted by the works of Chekov and Ibsen, the Inish people banish the repertoire company and turn instead to the circus. The result is that the least complicated character of all, Annie Twohig, who eschews dark drama to sit at home reading comics and dress catalogues, emerges as the most sensible. Full marks to Pauline McCarthy, in her debut role, for carrying the character so well. Let's hope Beehive get a residency in the proposed new boatyard theatre in Dingle.

Anne Lucey

Cast in order of appearance

Lizzie Twohig Kathleen Reen
Helena Sláine Ní Chathalláin/Julie Winters
Christine Lambert Danielle Rosenberg Polak
Eddie Twohig Malachaí Mac Amhlaoibh
John Twohig Niall O'Higgins
Constance Constantia Camilla Dinkel
Hector De La Mare Malcolm George
Annie Twohig Pauline McCarthy
Peter Hurley Aidan O'Shea
Michael the Boots Colm Mac Gearailt
John Hegarty, Cathal Holden
William Slattery Tadhg O'Halloran
Tom Mooney Greg O'Sullivan

Directors Wendela Rosenberg Polak and Malcolm George
Set/Costume Design Veronique Gerber
Lighting Design Laura Meiland
Stage Manager Veronique Gerber
Set and Stage Construction Greg O’Sullivan
Production Assistant Niall O’Higgins
Sound Design Malcolm George
Makeup Niamh Ní Chinéide
P.R. and photos Chris May
Writer-in-residence & Front of house Mike Venner

Music Nino Rota, Mary Bergin, Sheila Garry and Brid Cranich.