Lyndhurst Drama & Musical Society
The Vernon Theatre, Lyndhurst
Philip & Julie McStraw
22 July 2024
The Vernon Theatre in Lyndhurst has a unique charm – it is located in a delightful setting and evokes a spirit of times past. It is an excellent venue for a production of Dancing At Lughnasa, which is set in County Donegal, in August 1936, outside the fictional town of Ballybeg, where the festival of Lughnasa, the Celtic Harvest Festival, takes place. This beautifully scripted award-winning drama is the creation of the celebrated writer Brian Friel. The play was first performed in the Abbey Theatre, Dublin in 1990, and was later made into a much-admired film starring Meryl Streep.
Without spoiling anything… this is the colourful story of the vivacious Munday sisters. Five unmarried women, who are surviving on the edge of poverty. They are raising seven-year-old Michael, whilst caring for their troubled older brother ‘Uncle’ Jack – a former African missionary who suffers from malaria. He has a pagan spirituality, drawn from his experience of living closely with native people, which is completely at odds with Catholic teachings and the village Priest. Michael is the love child of Christina and a travelling salesman from Wales called Gerry Evans – an inveterate con man, who has been absent for much of the time and has played next to no part in Michael’s upbringing.
A recently acquired intermittent radio, nicknamed ‘Marconi’, introduces 1930s’ dance and traditional Irish folk music into the home at random moments, which incites the women into spontaneous outbursts of wild dancing. The music effectively exposes a palpable tension between the strict behaviour demanded by the Catholic church, and the unrestrained emotional paganism of the sisters and their brother.
In the tradition of a so-called Memory Play, the adult Michael recounts that summer, when he was living with his beloved mother and aunts, which for him was a happy time despite the devasting changes that will soon impact on the family.
The story has moments of almost unbearable poignancy, bringing tears to eyes and lumps in throats, but there are also flashes of sparkling humour that lift the mood and ultimately produces a well told account that will linger in one’s mind long after the final scene.
The play is performed by an accomplished group of experienced, talented actors, each one finely rounded and utterly convincing in their roles from the first through to the last scene. Vic Milne plays the principal part of Michael and he delivers an eloquent opening monologue in a nuanced Irish brogue, which nicely sets up the story that is to be told. His performance through to an equally powerful concluding monologue is excellent, and the same can be said of every one of the players. Tremendous performances all round from Sarah Short (Kate), Hannah Rogers (Maggie), Amy Godfrey-Arkle (Agnes), Shanna Cooper (Rose), Emma Davis (Christina), Richard Barnett (Jack), and Jack Barnett (Gerry).
Particular mention must be made of the impressive stage, which is a work of some artistry. Against a backdrop of a symbolic brooding sky, cleverly depicting clouds in the shape of the land of Ireland, there is an internal shell of a stone cottage complete with rustic décor and kitchen furnishings, besides views to a sunny countryside beyond.
This production is unquestionably the work of a dedicated team of enthusiastic and skillful people, brought together by Producer Stephanie Ferder and Directed by Michele Arkle and Rebecca Harper. In short, it is high quality drama and a must see for local regular theatre goers and especially for anyone who might be thinking of going to the theatre for the first time. They won’t be disappointed, guaranteed!
Dancing At Lughnasa runs from 25 – 27 July 2024, 7:30pm each evening, and tickets are still available.
[Editorial: Review of dress rehearsal; Tickets: £12; Available by phone (023 8029 2531) or online.]