“Playboy” With Strong Sligo Family Links

A unique Sligo family connection with one of Ireland’s most celebrated plays will be complete when Sligo Drama Circle present their latest production of J. M. Synge’s masterpiece, The Playboy of the Western World, at Fr. Flanagan Hall, Summerhill College from March 4th to 13th. Playing the central character of Christy Mahon will be Eddie Mc Dermottroe Jnr. whose father Eddie and sister Maria, have graced previous award winning local productions of the “Playboy”. Now a successful professional actress – currently enjoying a stint in Glenroe – Maria brought Pegeen Mike memorably to life about twenty years ago, while Eddie Senior rendered many a masterful performance as Old Mahon in previous Drama Circle efforts.

Now it’s the turn of Eddie Jnr., recently returned from Australia, and according to the show’s director, Frankie Brannigan, audiences can expect the same high standards which they’ve become accustomed to from the Mc Dermottroe clan. Frankie has assembled a very experienced cast for a play which is sure to be relevant to second level students, as it is on this year’s Leaving Certificate curriculum. Ann Brady, whose recent stage successes includes Dancing at Lughnasa and Blythe Spirit, plays Pegeen Mike; Bob Mc Donough is her father Michael James Flaherty; Joe Meehan is Old Mahon; Yvonne Curran plays the Widow Quin; newcomer Michael Lyons takes the part of Shawn Keogh; and John Legge and Seán Burke are Jimmy Farrell and Philly Cullen respectively. The talented cast is completed by “village girls” Bernie Ryan, Madonna Byrnes, Aoife Lawlor and Majella Robinson.

While the story of The Playboy of the Western World has been told and re-told by professional and amateur groups all over the country, the challenge is still as fresh and as daunting as ever. “Although I’ve acted in it a few times, this is my first attempt at directing ‘Playboy’ and it is a challenge”, concedes Frankie Brannigan. “But it’s an exciting challenge”.

from The Sligo Weekender, March 8th, 1996