Little Moon Of Alban

I attended the show on Sat night, I was not familiar with the play or the playwright James Costigan. I was surprised by the show and while it took mw a while to settle into I was engrossed by the end.

I expected the play to centre around the troubles in Ireland and the long suffering of the oppressed Irish. Instead I was presented with a play that looks beyond the obvious social and political issues, tests faith and challenges the notion of what disguise love takes.

The character of Brigid Mary Mangan was very well played by Catherine McStravick, her courageous and emotional journey was well plotted and acted, her commitment to her character and journey was just excellent There was able support from Paul Abott (Lt Kenneth Boyd) who played a dry and very dislikable character with aplomb.

I also enjoyed Pat Dunne as Father Curran as well as Judy Walsh as Brigid Marys mother. Noel ONeill (Director) played Patch Keegan, an activist during the troubles with great energy and helped kick up the tempo of the play.

There was a wide range of experience and talent involved with this production (cast of 18), but congratulations to Noel for making this mostly seamless. I thought that the lighting design was excellent helping greatly with scene transitions, The Irish club
is not an ideal location, but the space is used well.

I can only suggest you challenge your notion of plays at the Irish club (if you have any and see this play before it finishes,it may make you question your boundriesand you may never look at your enemy the same again......

I approached this production with some trepidation but can honestly say that this was the first show at the Irish Club that I have ever been able to understand. Normally the accents are too thick and too fast for me to follow.

I had not come across Catherine McStravick before and was very impressed with her utter assurance in her part. As Brigid Mary she led us from joy to sadness to anger and back again without missing a beat. Her relationship with the wounded English Lieutenent (Paul Abbott), who had led the platoon which killed her fiancee, was a study in mixed emotions.

Director Noel O'Neill's use of lighting and an absolute minimum of set worked really well, although at times the stage area seemed a bit drear.

I sympathised with the cast on Saturday night because of the noise coming from upstairs, but I guess that is a function of the venue. I believe this play still runs this weekend, please go and see it!

Stuart

I attended the play on Thursday night and enjoyed every minute of it.
I felt drawn into the story immediately and was surprised to discover afterwards that the play actually runs for two and a half hours.
The play opens with Dennis (John Dunne) and Patch (Noel O' Neill) who both gave very strong performances and brought a tear to my eye. The action provided by the soldiers, Reynolds (Peter Niblett) and Lt Boyd (Paul Abbott), along with very real sound effects, made the first act move very fast.
Cathy McStravick (Brigid Mary) and Paul Abbott (Lt Boyd) were excellent in their roles and surely gave the performance of their lifetimes.
Although act two seemed slower in pace, this was broken up by the three wounded soldiers who provided a comedic element and allowed some relief from the heavy going drama.
Overall I think the cast were excellent and I enjoyed the play. I strongly suggest that you go and see the play before it finishes.

I'm sorry that I could not review this play before it ended, more people might have been inspired to go and see it.
Catherine McStravick's luminous performance as the girl whose fiance was killed a week before their wedding, later joining the Sisters of Charity and in being sent to nurse at a hospital for British wounded finding out that the man she refused to allow to die was the man who fired the gun ,was as moving a study as any I have seen. Paul Abbott as the Lt. matched her in performance, at first resisting all her attempts at kindness, but later accepting her fight for his life and soul, but ultimately having to leave her to her religious life and return to his own.
for those who do not know the story, it is set in County Dublin at the height of "The Troubles" . On whichever 'side' your sympathies might lie, the futility of war, civil or otherwise and the hope that can come out of them must surely resonate with all. It may be unfair not to say much about the supporting cast, but all were equally good in their respective roles, with not a disonant performance among them.
My only quibbles were technical, I found the constant moving of hospital beds etc in Act 2 a distraction, more could have been done by use of lighting to create an area of garden leaving the rest in darkness. Also in act one, shooting and knifing usually leaves lots of blood and none was in evidence! It made the scene almost comic instead of tragic. In act two the Lt should have been well bandaged up, after all he had been knifed in the guts! He really did look a bit too fit. nit picking probably but I did cast a professional eye on these things!
If the two clubs concerned decide to present the play again go and see it for your soul's sake.