The Point Theatre, Dublin


The Ha'penny Bridge is a Dublin landmark, built for pedestrians and originally charging one halfpenny for the privilege of crossing the river Uffey from North to South. It was built (whisper it) in the UK and probably designed by the great Thomas Telford. Notable for the elegance of its design, it is now replicated in Dublin airport as you walk across to the duty-free shopping mall. Alastair McGuckian who wrote the book, music and lyrics for this slice of Irish history, is far better known for being a farmer and the founder of Masstock Systems Ltd which promotes good livestock systems throughout Ireland and, indeed, internationally.But it doesn't show. This is a wellcrafted, well-told story played with intensity and passion and receiving a well-earned standing ovation on its gala opening night. If the lyrics are somewhat simplistic, they are not banal and the music is easy on the ear.

It is 1922 and there is a civil war raging in Ireland. The British are leaving after centuries of occupation. The North has been severed from the South. The new Free State Government is challenged. The Catholic Church has horrifying authority and the word of its priests is absolute law to the poor.

Against this backdrop, we are in Dublin's north inner city. The people here are the most disadvantaged of all and Molly Cassidy has no intention of staying in the rut of poverty that traps her mother. She falls in love with a visiting Englishman and is determined to live her life as she wishes. Yes, echoes of Romeo and Juliet of course.

The story has moments of menace and despair but also has greater moments of exuberance and joy, showing how people can escape the monotonous misery of their lives from time to time and manage to survive against the awful odds they face.

The sets, costumes and lighting took the watcher straight to 1922. The houses still exist today, although with the increasing opulence brought about by membership of The Common Market, they are now sought-after real estate and no longer slum tenements.

Annalene Beechey as Molly shines in a terrific performance with a truly enchanting singing voice. Stephen Ashfield as her English lover, George, shows us all the emotions as he changes from brash visitor to distraught lover. They are backed with totally believable 'performances from the entire cast - a version of every Irish character you have ever seen in a film, a play or read in Irish literature is there - and a terrific troupe of dancers perform the showstopping numbers superbly choreographed by Bill Deamer.

Overall, it is a bit too long and a couple of numbers would not be missed, but would it work in London? Possibly not, because it poignantly reminds us of our shameful, bullying past. But take it to America and the huge population of Americans with Irish ancestry would absolutely revel in it- especially if it opened on St Patrick's Day!

CAST

Molly...........................ANNALENE BEECHEY
George.........................STEPHEN ASHFIELD
Maggie.........................EILEEN REID
Cavanagh.....................JOSEPH O'GORMAN
Anna............................FLO McSWEENEY
Peadar.........................JOHN CONROY
Sean............................KARL HARPUR
Doran...........................ENDA OATES
Canon...........................DANIEL REARDON
Whippet........................MARK LAMBERT
Dillon............................MARK O'REGAN
Becky...........................CLAUDINE DAY
O'Flaherty.....................AIDAN KELLY
Mrs Flynn......................GILLIAN McCARTHY
Paddy...........................TONY MULHOLLAND
Joe Maguire...................ALAN BURKITT
Jimmy O'Loughlin.............RYAN DIXON
Mrs Josephine Cairnduff....HOLLY DALE SPENCER
Eamonn Gallacher............GEORGE SMITH
Imelda Deasy..................BEKKI CARPENTER
Columba Gillespie.............BENTRIBE
Ronn O'Connell................DANIEL FARROW
Ollie Phelan....................JETHRO MARLES
Mary O'Brien...................KAREN ASPINALL
Mickser Doyle.................LEWIS BUTLER
Bernadette Gogsan..........SUZANNAH LUCY
Willie Madigan.................JENNIFER OWN
Bridie Mulligan.................BONNIE PARKER
Conor McBride.................PAUL FARRELL
Redmond O'Hanlon...........RHYS GEORGE
Kitty Doyle.....................KATHRYN BROADRIBB
EileenWhelan..................ELAINE GEE
Nora Murphy..................SARAH O'GLEBY
Fergus O'Toole...............ADAM MURRAY*
Mrs Cassie Friel...............KYLIE ANNE CRUIKSHANKS
*Also assistant choreographers

CREATIVE TEAM
Book, music and lyrics................ALASDAIR McGUCKIAN
Director...................................CATHAL MacCABE
Choreographer/Musical Staging.....BILL DEAMER
Musical Director.........................GEROID GRANT
Set and Costume Designer...........PATRICK MURRAY
CostUme Designer......................LOUISE STANTON
Lighting and Projection Designers..JON DRISCOLL
Sound Designer.........................TERRY HERON
Assistant MusicalDirector
MusicalSupervisor.......................SEAMUS BRETT
Hair and Wigs............................JENNY READMAN
Make-up Artist..........................AISLING EYRE
Producers.................................PHELIM MacMAHON


Lynda Trapwell