The Irish and how they got so…mean?
Martin McDonagh’s 1996 drama The Beauty Queen of Leenane is back in Philadelphia in a production at the Irish Heritage Theatre. The play, about a mother and daughter who are toxically dependent on each other, is filled with staples of McDonagh’s work: richly dense language, abuse, violence and shifts in power dynamics that keep you guessing until the end. Irish Heritage Theatre’s production has some good aspects to it, but is sadly mired by some inconsistent staging, stifling directorial choices and a general roughness that hinders more than it helps.
She's Beauty and She's Grace
Where Irish Heritage Theatre’s production shines most is in its performances. Kirsten Quinn and Mary Pat Walsh as Maureen and Mag respectively, serve just the right amount of venom as the mad mother-daughter duo. The resentment that Quinn is able to portray is tantamount to a seeping poison, and never feels forced or put on. Her and Walsh have an electric chemistry, and both do well with their Irish accents. Ray Hargraves and Brian Anthony Wilson as the Dooley brothers have less to do in the script, but both actors bring palpable humanity to their performances. Hargraves is able to interject the few moments of humor in the show splendidly, while Wilson fills his Pato with an endearing yearning for a better life that is admirable.
Some Lumpy Complan
Unfortunately, the performances aren’t supported by the other elements of the production. The direction by Peggy Mecham feels stilted at times. The scene changes in particular are staged in a way that completely saps all energy and momentum from the production. This play is difficult, constantly building upon itself, but with this staging it feels like every new scene is starting at the beginning, instead of continuing to fester and grow to the final moments. One directional choice that bothered me was around the decision to mime a door, instead of having a physical door in the space. While that in itself is not a problem, the issue was that none of the actors seemed to be on the same page in how that door opened or closed (or at a few points whether it even existed), which was extremely distracting. The set, costumes and hair sadly don’t add anything to the production, and actually hinder it in obscuring exactly where and when this story takes place.
Overall, Irish Heritage Theatre’s production is a mixed bag. Good performances don't always overcome a muddled production, and unfortunately this production is thus affected. McDonagh’s script still sizzles, though it is starting to show its age, and has occasional moments that don’t feel appropriate in today’s climate. All of that aside, The Beauty Queen of Leenane at Irish Heritage Theatre does not do much to highlight the quality of the script and the actors available, resulting in a production that never embraces its full beauty.
The Beauty Queen of Leenane
is on stage now until March 23rd, 2025
at Plays and Players Mainstage
(1714 Delancy Street).
For more information visit https://www.irishheritagetheatre.org/.