The Lonesome West

Thank you for the invitation to your production of The Lonesome West. The play set in rural Ireland is interlinked with the two other plays in the Leenane Trilogy and lays bare the effects of intense sibling rivalry, and the damage it can cause. Coleman and Valene Connor, two brothers are living in their father’s house after Coleman has (we later find out) murdered him with a gun conveniently hung on the wall of the sitting room. 

The four members of the cast worked very well together, maintaining their Irish accents and their complex characters throughout, balancing the dark uncomfortable elements of the play with its humour to give compelling performances.

The director had clearly worked with the actors to fully understand their characters and the complex threads within the play. He balanced the dark elements of the play with the humour within the script. The production was well-paced with the moments of comedy contrasting well with those of great tension when the brothers were left alone together. The director also ensured that whilst there were some very funny moments, the deep emotion and poignancy of the play came through which was seen in the touching moment when Father Welsh was talking to Girleen by the sea just before his suicide.

This was a very compelling production and the cast are to be commended on their performences 

 

 

 

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