| programme_notes_for_the_beauty_queen_of_leenane.docx |
Programme Notes for The Beauty Queen of Leenane
The play is a modern classic by the acclaimed playwright and film maker Martin McDonagh (The Guard, The Banshees of Inisherin). As a play the Beauty Queen of Leenane works on many levels. In part it’s a dark comedy in part a thriller with a sprinkling of repellent violence and a disturbing examination of twisted family dynamics.
The Set
On the left of the stage the gable end of a house is constructed from rough-hewn stone with a ramshackle roof and a window on the outside wall. A spade is propped up against this wall. Inside a door in the interior wall leads to an inner room. On the same wall as the door there’s an old fashioned range with a t towel hanging on the rail and a blackened wall above it. Behind this range is an unseen exit leading to the inner room. Further into the main room on the wall facing us, there’s a slightly more modern cooker with a shelf over it and beyond it, a door which leads to the outside and from which we can see people arriving and leaving. To the right of the door there is a range of cupboards and a work top with bits and pieces of kitchen equipment, including a kettle. A window with a view of the outside is also above the cooker. The cupboards are dirty white and a brown curtain can be drawn to cover the end ones. Above this wall there are the exposed rafters of the roof which turn into branches reminiscent of ruined cottages of the past, slowly returning to the landscape. The centre of the room contains a rocking chair on the left, upholstered on the seat and back with barley sugar twisted struts and arm rests with a small stool that serves as a table beside it. The chair rocks gently back and forth. Then, to the right centre, there’s a big plain wooden table with another small stool beside it. The floor is of dark grey lino and in front of this, echoing the roof, some bare branches are laid out along the front of the stage.
The Cast
Pato is played by Caolán Byrne. He’s a man in his early fifties of average height with an oval face and intense blue eyes a thin mouth and protuberant ears. He has short well-groomed grey hair and first wears a leather jacket, a white shirt with a boldly patterned tie and grey slacks.
Ray Dooley is a young man in his late teens or early twenties. He is of average height and slight with an oval face and large blue eyes. He has dark short hair with a straight fringe. He wears a parka style coat with a striped sports type windcheater underneath. The hoody is white with large stripes of green. He wears blue tracksuit bottoms with a white stripe down the side. In the second act he wears black trousers with his windcheater with a T shirt under. Marty Breen plays the part of Ray Dooley.
The part of Mag is taken by Ger Ryan. She is a dumpy figure with a long face and her long straggly grey hair is gathered behind in a bunch. She wears a shapeless long patterned dress beneath a three quarters coat. Both have a bluish tinge and are very shabby. Around her shoulders she wears the remnants of a roughly knitted shawl, fallen into tatters. Her shoes are flat and comfortable. Later she appears in a dressing gown of pink and purple checks over her dress and alter still her shawl is replaced by a dark grey cardigan. She wears comfortable flat shoes on her feet and shuffles around in them.
Maureen is in her late forties. She is fairly slim and has brown hair tied back and up behind her head. She has a square face with almond shaped eyes and a full mouth. She first appears in a soaked anorak which she removes to reveal shapeless brown trousers and an orange top underneath which is a long sleeved striped top in dark orange. She wears trainers on her feet. Later she appears in a mustard cardigan over a pale green unflattering dress with shoes and socks. Later still she wears a swish knee length red satin dress, fitted at the waist, with long sleeves and a V neck. Later still she is covered by a light grey cardigan over her pale green dress. At the conclusion of the play she slouches in in an unfashionable black coat.
This concludes the programme notes for The Beauty Queen of Leenane, brought to you by NI Sightlines www.nisightlines.co.uk We hope you enjoy the show. Come back soon!
The play is a modern classic by the acclaimed playwright and film maker Martin McDonagh (The Guard, The Banshees of Inisherin). As a play the Beauty Queen of Leenane works on many levels. In part it’s a dark comedy in part a thriller with a sprinkling of repellent violence and a disturbing examination of twisted family dynamics.
The Set
On the left of the stage the gable end of a house is constructed from rough-hewn stone with a ramshackle roof and a window on the outside wall. A spade is propped up against this wall. Inside a door in the interior wall leads to an inner room. On the same wall as the door there’s an old fashioned range with a t towel hanging on the rail and a blackened wall above it. Behind this range is an unseen exit leading to the inner room. Further into the main room on the wall facing us, there’s a slightly more modern cooker with a shelf over it and beyond it, a door which leads to the outside and from which we can see people arriving and leaving. To the right of the door there is a range of cupboards and a work top with bits and pieces of kitchen equipment, including a kettle. A window with a view of the outside is also above the cooker. The cupboards are dirty white and a brown curtain can be drawn to cover the end ones. Above this wall there are the exposed rafters of the roof which turn into branches reminiscent of ruined cottages of the past, slowly returning to the landscape. The centre of the room contains a rocking chair on the left, upholstered on the seat and back with barley sugar twisted struts and arm rests with a small stool that serves as a table beside it. The chair rocks gently back and forth. Then, to the right centre, there’s a big plain wooden table with another small stool beside it. The floor is of dark grey lino and in front of this, echoing the roof, some bare branches are laid out along the front of the stage.
The Cast
Pato is played by Caolán Byrne. He’s a man in his early fifties of average height with an oval face and intense blue eyes a thin mouth and protuberant ears. He has short well-groomed grey hair and first wears a leather jacket, a white shirt with a boldly patterned tie and grey slacks.
Ray Dooley is a young man in his late teens or early twenties. He is of average height and slight with an oval face and large blue eyes. He has dark short hair with a straight fringe. He wears a parka style coat with a striped sports type windcheater underneath. The hoody is white with large stripes of green. He wears blue tracksuit bottoms with a white stripe down the side. In the second act he wears black trousers with his windcheater with a T shirt under. Marty Breen plays the part of Ray Dooley.
The part of Mag is taken by Ger Ryan. She is a dumpy figure with a long face and her long straggly grey hair is gathered behind in a bunch. She wears a shapeless long patterned dress beneath a three quarters coat. Both have a bluish tinge and are very shabby. Around her shoulders she wears the remnants of a roughly knitted shawl, fallen into tatters. Her shoes are flat and comfortable. Later she appears in a dressing gown of pink and purple checks over her dress and alter still her shawl is replaced by a dark grey cardigan. She wears comfortable flat shoes on her feet and shuffles around in them.
Maureen is in her late forties. She is fairly slim and has brown hair tied back and up behind her head. She has a square face with almond shaped eyes and a full mouth. She first appears in a soaked anorak which she removes to reveal shapeless brown trousers and an orange top underneath which is a long sleeved striped top in dark orange. She wears trainers on her feet. Later she appears in a mustard cardigan over a pale green unflattering dress with shoes and socks. Later still she wears a swish knee length red satin dress, fitted at the waist, with long sleeves and a V neck. Later still she is covered by a light grey cardigan over her pale green dress. At the conclusion of the play she slouches in in an unfashionable black coat.
This concludes the programme notes for The Beauty Queen of Leenane, brought to you by NI Sightlines www.nisightlines.co.uk We hope you enjoy the show. Come back soon!
