Melodrama For Hawk’s Well

Sligo Drama Circle open an exciting Summer programme at the Hawk’s Well Theatre with the endearing and ever-popular “Peg O’ My Heart”. This delightful romantic comedy made a fortune for its author, J. Hartley Manners, and catapulted his actress wife Laurette Taylor, to international stardom. “Peg O’ My Heart” had its first stage production in New York in 1912 and quickly became one of the all time long running theatrical successes. It had over 600 consecutive performances on Broadway and later became a popular motion picture, again starring Laurette Taylor.

Eighteen year old Peg is American born but has the simple soul of an Irish “Colleen”. Naive and uncalculating, she inherits a fortune but soon discovers that where there’s a will, there are relatives. There ensues a veritable minefield of avaricious schemers and insincere suitors. This is a comedy of youth, of marvellously contrasting characters and of hilarious situations.

Walter Mc Donagh, a household name in the great amateur drama tradition directs this new production. This is his second production of Peg, his first was some years ago in Sligo’s old Town Hall Theatre, but with the advent of the new Hawk’s Well with its modern facilities and comforts he has long been itching to have another go.

from The Sligo Champion, July 1986