tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1658202452707400073.post5254507894140988450..comments2023-12-27T05:20:26.800-05:00Comments on BAM blog: In Context: The Beauty Queen of LeenaneUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1658202452707400073.post-6456691419878042612017-02-05T13:28:24.095-05:002017-02-05T13:28:24.095-05:00My guests and I did not like it. Between the thick...My guests and I did not like it. Between the thick brogues and poor sound, we could not understand a good deal of the dialogue. While the ensemble did a very credible job, we felt the material was quite limiting--too little substance or flair to the writing to compensate for the misery of the subject matter. Could not recommend this play to anyone I know.A. McIlwainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02372094096253641789noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1658202452707400073.post-63589124745636842732017-02-04T19:34:09.251-05:002017-02-04T19:34:09.251-05:00Aisling O'Sullivan was brilliant. She manifest...Aisling O'Sullivan was brilliant. She manifests a remarkable range of feelings prompted by her character...of hope on the one side and despair on the other. She takes us with her on this journey from darkness into light, which then flickers, and could re-light up or go black at any moment. It is her way of navigating the whole range of emotions between these extremes that is so remarkable. We are with her every step of the way. And she's sexy! Brava!Anonymous from New Yorkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08454357794072949906noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1658202452707400073.post-13867962165827980072017-02-04T18:08:57.644-05:002017-02-04T18:08:57.644-05:00Wonderfully written. Wonderfully acted. But still ...Wonderfully written. Wonderfully acted. But still a brutal look at how a parent's fear of loneliness becomes selfishness then becomes destruction. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1658202452707400073.post-83208214400652669822017-01-31T14:28:04.679-05:002017-01-31T14:28:04.679-05:00Interesting how when the play was first produced, ...Interesting how when the play was first produced, McDonagh was one of few masters of the "Black Comedy" genre. Television has perhaps jaded us a bit, and may explain why some critics find the current production gentler. With the shock absorbed we can now savor the wonderful subtlety of the writing and the acting. It remains a superb ensemble piece.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07810765074208408066noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1658202452707400073.post-66892307861127985412017-01-29T20:43:37.237-05:002017-01-29T20:43:37.237-05:00For maybe the first minute I wondered if the heavy...For maybe the first minute I wondered if the heavy brogue would be a problem and then totally forgot it and didn't miss a word. I was completely drawn into their world and blown away by the story and the acting. It was a perfect afternoonAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11860402936943598067noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1658202452707400073.post-23455969711054495342017-01-29T11:38:17.212-05:002017-01-29T11:38:17.212-05:00Add my name to the list of those who couldn't ...Add my name to the list of those who couldn't understand the dialogue and I have been to Ireland six times. As I recall, the 1998 play at Atlantic was better, smaller stage, smaller theater, made for more tension. All in all, an enjoyable evening but being enjoyable is not what this play is about.Rogernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1658202452707400073.post-72910685520006897442017-01-29T09:34:21.204-05:002017-01-29T09:34:21.204-05:00We were in row K and it was very difficult to hear...We were in row K and it was very difficult to hear. The four of us agreed later we probably missed 50% of dialogue. It wasn't so much the accent/language, which is beautiful and one of the reasons I attend Irish plays, but the actual volume. It certainly detracted from our enjoyment of the play.BobChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10508154013287893446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1658202452707400073.post-34319355014118766472017-01-28T23:43:43.450-05:002017-01-28T23:43:43.450-05:00Saw it at the Atlantic 20 years ago and was almost...Saw it at the Atlantic 20 years ago and was almost afraid to revisit. Still hits you in the gut.DJnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1658202452707400073.post-25943047866332187812017-01-26T09:35:51.809-05:002017-01-26T09:35:51.809-05:00The play was excellent! It was moving, touching, f...The play was excellent! It was moving, touching, funny and powerful.<br />The actors were outstanding, every one of them. Go see it! The accents were difficult at first but we got used to it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1658202452707400073.post-70933429129781554292017-01-23T17:14:34.408-05:002017-01-23T17:14:34.408-05:00Wonderful couple of hours! A beautifully told tal...Wonderful couple of hours! A beautifully told tale about the stuckness of life in rural Ireland. Loved the set and particularly the rain effect. At first, accents were hard to understand. However, this was not an insurmountable problem after ears got used to it. Aisling O’Sullivan does a terrific job as Maureen. At first in control she, slowly, loses it to become the next generation “Beauty Queen of Leenane.”<br />Wow. Impactful and fun (kudos to Aaron Monaghan as the hilarious Ray) all at the same time.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1658202452707400073.post-89258960263625628292017-01-23T08:22:43.149-05:002017-01-23T08:22:43.149-05:00Hard to evaluate as I probably understood a third ...Hard to evaluate as I probably understood a third or less even with the hearing assist device. Especially the rants between mother and daughter. A play like this really needs illuminated sub-titles. BAM Fan January 22, 2017 <br /><br /><br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1658202452707400073.post-58235142654321336282017-01-22T23:37:52.788-05:002017-01-22T23:37:52.788-05:00Brilliant cast, brilliant performances all around,...Brilliant cast, brilliant performances all around, brilliant lighting set and sound design. I agree with the others about the "brogue," took me a while for my ears to adjust, and I ended up missing 50% anyway. However, if you have read the play, and are familiar with the stage directions and text, I must say the director missed a lot of what I believe the author intended; He also added some "stage business" that is not in the script, that was unnecessary, had no point, and I thought detracted from the brilliance of McDonagh.Cpagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14804830246267728544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1658202452707400073.post-15380683493784429162017-01-22T14:21:56.926-05:002017-01-22T14:21:56.926-05:00I barely breathed as this alternately dark and hil...I barely breathed as this alternately dark and hilarious play come to its inevitable conclusion. It was a strange but very authentic experience to be laughing so much, and then to feel horrified at the same time. Life is complex like that, and this play evokes that complexity. Every single one of the cast members delivered incredible performances. I haven't stopped thinking about it. It was one of the finest evenings of theater I have ever experienced.CurlyVhttp://victoriabculture.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1658202452707400073.post-19457126719477529162017-01-21T18:03:32.556-05:002017-01-21T18:03:32.556-05:00Agreed. Very difficult to make out what was being...Agreed. Very difficult to make out what was being said. Sad, I know I missed quite a bit.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16752416338971444957noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1658202452707400073.post-87176478805951081572017-01-21T18:01:01.568-05:002017-01-21T18:01:01.568-05:00Agreed. Very difficult to make out what was being...Agreed. Very difficult to make out what was being said. Sad, I know I missed quite a bit.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16752416338971444957noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1658202452707400073.post-72497265694353206612017-01-20T09:32:11.025-05:002017-01-20T09:32:11.025-05:00I had seem the 1998 production and had forgotten h...I had seem the 1998 production and had forgotten how blisteringly funny the play is. This production seemed more open, more hopeful, until it isn't. Perhaps the letter from Pato to Maureen is the most poignant point in the play. We are seeing and hearing the diminished lives of a dispossessed people and the continuing agony they endured. Jimselfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17983963399591292520noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1658202452707400073.post-34137731466934680952017-01-19T23:39:10.821-05:002017-01-19T23:39:10.821-05:00This was excellent. The actors were remarkable--th...This was excellent. The actors were remarkable--they were great physical/body actors<br />from where I was in back orchestra, but when I took out the binoculars and watched them up close they were incredible. It's a very intense show--I had problems with the language, both the local dialect, words we don't use here, and the thick accents on top of that meant I only got about half of what they were saying. It was very musical language and beautiful to listen to aside from content. Loved this, can't wait to see more of this author's work.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1658202452707400073.post-7106220955672884702017-01-18T22:49:26.077-05:002017-01-18T22:49:26.077-05:00I think people who have walked those shoes can tru...I think people who have walked those shoes can truly appreciate what went on, on that stage, tonight. It hit home. It was a brilliant performance. johnnevinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435568224075350975noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1658202452707400073.post-38725934328486492302017-01-18T21:19:57.685-05:002017-01-18T21:19:57.685-05:00Advertised as a Dark Comedy, I must say it was mos...Advertised as a Dark Comedy, I must say it was mostly dark. Although dark, it was still well performed and the parts that were comedy were funny. Unfortunately, our seat location didn't lend itself to the facial expressions offered by the actors, which added a great deal to the performance, Im certain. Unfortunately, it was very difficult at times to hear, and to understand what was being said on stage from our vantage point. Our seats were directly under a speaker so we thought that we weren't going to miss a word, unfortunately the speakers weren't used. However, got the gist of the play and enjoyed it just the same. Well performed. BRAVO! It was sold out the night we attended. That should say it all. Lorihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05604311726376610687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1658202452707400073.post-39949270537502669772017-01-18T10:21:19.592-05:002017-01-18T10:21:19.592-05:00Saw Marie as Maureen when it was at the Atlantic w...Saw Marie as Maureen when it was at the Atlantic with my dear friend Tom (RIP) in it. What a treat to come back and see Marie as Maggie. Stellar performances all round. Touching and sad and darkly affecting. Don't miss it!Fionahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09936238048684645027noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1658202452707400073.post-78926500561536213372017-01-17T23:12:04.840-05:002017-01-17T23:12:04.840-05:00Great play. But your balcony "seats" are...Great play. But your balcony "seats" are impossibly cramped, even for a short person like myself. Standing would have been more comfortable. We would have left at intermission if we had not found empty orchestra seats.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01407758719506219230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1658202452707400073.post-2980070652710914852017-01-16T16:41:01.963-05:002017-01-16T16:41:01.963-05:00One of my favorite plays - so glad that this origi...One of my favorite plays - so glad that this original production returned so that I could bring friends who didn't see it in 1998 - so eerie to see Marie Mullen graduate into the role of mother (considering the nature of the story) - highly recommended for all who love excellent theatre!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00446896562595919182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1658202452707400073.post-11255670329994602532017-01-16T16:09:56.807-05:002017-01-16T16:09:56.807-05:00Saw the 1/15/17 production which lived up to my me...Saw the 1/15/17 production which lived up to my memories of how superb the play was when I first saw it in 1998. My recollection was that the direction was different in 1998 and the mother opening the letter was not a foregone conclusion. Victor Garber was in the audience - he starred in Art which beat out Beauty Queen for Best Play in 1998.Michael Enoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1658202452707400073.post-47347761158601828922017-01-15T19:43:24.544-05:002017-01-15T19:43:24.544-05:00Superb cast. Superb play. Very disturbing, but s...Superb cast. Superb play. Very disturbing, but somehow reflective of a normal life.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1658202452707400073.post-35432427730584284402017-01-15T13:02:56.853-05:002017-01-15T13:02:56.853-05:00There was a standing ovation for great performance...There was a standing ovation for great performances by all four actors. It's a funny and brutal piece of work. I like the way it investigates mental illness without labelling. There were many laughs and gasps from the audience and no tears. The Liverpool tracksuit top made me chuckle. johnnycashbackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00948098771250242531noreply@blogger.com