Ennis Players bring Playboy to Glór

Ennis Players return to the Glór stage next Tuesday after an absence of two years, with JM Synge’s classic The Playboy of the Western World. The production will run from Tuesday next to Friday 26 at 8pm nightly.
The play tells the tale of Christy Mahon (played by Joe Varden), who believes he has killed his father with a blow from a loy.
He is feted as a hero by all and gains the love of Pegeen Mike (Saoirse Byrne), until Old Mahon (Hugh Gallagher) returns and the fun begins in earnest. This is both a hilarious comedy and indeed a tragedy, suitable for all the family and the Ennis Players’ production promises to be highly energetic and wonderfully entertaining.
When the Playboy was first staged by the Abbey Theatre in 1909, it caused outrage and riots broke out as the audiences took exception to the vulgar depiction of rural life, the cringing servitude to the local priest and the hero-worshipping by the villagers of a shameless killer. But the final straw for the audience was a reference by Christy Mahon to a drift of females standing in their shifts.
Directing The Playboy of the Western World is Geraldine Greene who has been one of Ennis Players’ leading actresses and directors for many years and she makes a welcome return in the full-length play category.
Geraldine has directed many productions in the past, winning the All Ireland One Act Open Finals with George Fitzmaurice’s The Dandy Dolls. She was also a leading actress in Ennis Players All-Ireland winning The Beauty Queen of Leenane by Martin McDonagh.
The group will take the production on the festival circuit following its stint in Glór and the Ennis Players’ are hoping to qualify for the Open All Ireland Finals in Athlone. They will include taking part in competitions at Doonbeg, Scarrif, Claremorris, Castleisland, Kiltyclougher and Carnew in Wicklow hoping to gain the required points to qualify for the All Ireland.
On Wednesday, part of the proceeds will be donated to Sr Ethel Normoyle’s Missionvale project.
The play is an appropriate choice as it is on the Leaving Certificate syllabus this year. Students from across the country will be coming to Glór on Tuesday as this will be a student night and group bookings will be available.
For further information or to book tickets contact Glór Box Office on 065 6843103.