Dancing at Lughnasa

Dancing At Lughnasa by Brian Friel is set in County Donegal, in August 1936 near the fictional town of Ballybeg. Every year the festival of Lughnasa, a Celtic Harvest Festival, takes place.

The set is great with lots of attention to detail making it every bit the stone cottage. Lighting and sound are just right. Directors Michele Arkle and Rebecca Harper and Producer Stephanie Ferder have a great cast for this production. 

The story is set around the Munday sisters. They are five unmarried women, who live together, on the edge of poverty. One has a seven-year-old son Michael, who they all look after, they also care for their troubled older brother ‘Uncle’ Jack – a former African missionary who suffers from malaria.

The story is told through the adult eyes of Michael played by Vic Milne. Who is recalling that summer, 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. Vic is very good in the part, telling the tale with a great Irish accent which set the scenes. It was very clever when the sisters were all talking to the 'imaginary' little boy and Michael was answering.

Michael is the love child of Christina played nicely by Emma Davis and a travelling salesman from Wales called Gerry Evans played by Jack Barnett, he's a bit of a con man who has hardly been in his sons life. There are some lovely moments between Christina and Gerry. 

All of the strong cast play their parts really well and bring their own touch to the characters. Agnes played by Amy Godfrey-Arkle, Maggie by Hannah Rogers, Kate by Sarah Short and Rosie by Shana Cooper. Their brother Jack is played by Richard Barnett he has some great comedy moments especially recalling his years as a missionary. 

The sisters have acquired an intermittent radio, they have nicknamed ‘Marconi’, which when turned on plays 1930s’ Irish folk dance music into the house which gets the women into wild dancing mode, which is great to see. They are all enjoying themselves.

Well done to you all.

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