Tragicomic Beauty Queen Comes to the Hawks Well

Sligo Drama Circle launched their eagerly awaited new theatre production last night (Monday) in the Hawk’s Well theatre, where it will run for the week.

Four award winning actors form the cast of this long awaited production of the “Beauty Queen of Leenane”. Painstakingling rehearsed under the direction of Joan Fitzpatrick, Sligo audiences will not be disappointed by his superb production from Sligo Drama Circle. The small Connemara town land of Leenane comes to life through the characters of Maureen Folan (Anne Marie Byrne), her ageing and needy mother (Pat Sweeney) her love interest Pato Dooley (Vinnie Holland) and his younger brother Ray (Colin Callanan).

This tragicomedy makes for the ultimate theatrical experience as the pathological relationship between mother and daughter unfolds alongside the relationship between Maureen and Pato, observed by the “go-between” Ray.

Martin McDonagh is renowned in his writing for his portrayal of the darker sides of the Irish landscape, but in this production we see how successful he is at combining both humour with deep sadness.

On Broadway The Beauty Queen of Leenane sold out for it’s entire run but there are some seats still available for this one week only performance of this classic play by Sligo Drama Circle. The play opened on Monday, 14 November and will continue it’s run until Saturday, November 19. Booking tickets in advance is essential. To book yours call the theatre box office on (071) 9161518

from The Sligo Weekender, November 15th, 2005