Story of Ireland of Past Illuminates the Present

If ever a play proved that those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it, or that the more things change the more they remain the same, it’s “Juno and the Paycock”, the classic drama by Seán O’ Casey. It is set in 1922, but more than three generations later, Irishmen are still fighting Irishmen and grinding poverty still has that nation in turmoil. The Sligo Drama Circle, from the Irish community of the same name, brought the play to the Sheldon Thursday night, and while the accents sometimes caused difficulty, the message of the play was loud and clear and the production was good – often very good.

It is depressing to realise how much remains the same, either in truth or in perception, but it’s exciting to listen to O’ Casey’s words coming from actors who are part of the land and the heritage. The story is basic: the Boyle family, deep in poverty, includes father, mother, son and daughter. Jack is a loafer, his wife, Juno, tries to keep things together, son Johnny is crippled from battle wounds in “the troubles”, daughter Mary is on strike. Suddenly, like an announcement from heaven, Boyle is told he will receive an inheritance of as much as 200 pounds. Betting on the come, the family buys furniture, clothes and booze, living it up to the highest.

The comedown is savage: the inheritance vanishes through a legal error, the son is executed for being an informer, the daughter is made pregnant by the man who promised the inheritance, seduced her and left town. Eddie Mac Dermottroe is splendid as Jack Boyle, known as the Paycock (peacock) because of his pride. His problems are largely of his own making. He’s proud and lazy and not nearly as bright as he thinks he is, and an “old fashioned man” in terms of dominating – even bullying – his wife and children. Mac Dermottroe’s lilting strut, his sudden rages, his drunken rantings, are outstanding. He has a perfect match in Lionel Gallagher as Joxer, his neighbour and drinking companion. Joxer is the ultimate sycophant, always turning his face to the kind word, his hand to the full glass, and Gallagher is just wonderful. He is smarmy as he glides across the floor, wormy as he insinuates his great friendship for the Paycock, two-faced as he snarls invective at the Paycock behind his back, lower than low as he steals his last bottle of beer. It’s a rich and superior performance.

Ann Mc Dermott, as Juno, doesn’t have the opportunity for flamboyance that Mac Dermottroe and Gallagher have, but she helps hold the play together even as she fails to hold her family together. She’s solid and impressive. Ita Mc Morrow was the other standout as a blowzy-blonde neighbour who makes the most of her appearances. The other performances were less impressive, with Ronan Mc Evilly and Yvonne Curran, as the Boyle son and daughter, respectively, too one-dimensional. O’ Casey was the star of the evening, however. Each family member has a story, and he weaves them together seamlessly. Besides, it’s always a pleasure to hear a great storyteller at work.

from St. Louis Post-Dispatch, by Joe Pollack, Saturday March 18th, 1989