Three generations on stage in Longford as Mostrim Players stage 'The Cripple of Inishmaan'

It's a busy time for Mostrim Players. They are in the final throes of rehearsal for their Spring production of The Cripple of Inishmaan, but the group have many more irons in the fire.

“We have been rehearsing for the past nine weeks and enjoying the experience under the watchful eye of our director, Charlie McGuinness,” Mostrim Players stalwart Pauline Flood told the Leader.

Mostrim Players are an incredibly active group. Not only are they preparing for this production, members were also involved in the Maria Edgeworth Festival and next week's Famine commemoration event that will be held in Edgeworthstown next weekend.

Such exertions take a toll: “Since the majority of our own actors were exhausted from recent productions, we brought in two actors from The Bea Masterson group in Legan, namely Paddy Donnelly and Padraig Kelly. They are two very experienced actors.

“We brought another two from Cavan, namely our own Vanessa Galligan Flood and Donal Cooney. Vanessa and Donal are members of two different Cavan amateur dramatic groups,” Pauline explained.

The selection of The Cripple of Innisman is a particularly contemporarily relevant choice: “This is a play that might shock certain individuals as it portrays the ignorance of people on the Island and their inability to accept people who are different, that is different creeds, different nationalities, special needs and disabilities. They were treated differently, in an unkind type of way.”

Martin McDonagh is a playwright renowned for his style, humour and darkness. He creates characters that actors love to present: “We haven’t changed it in any way, and we will try and do it justice and hope that no one will take offence.
As we are using poetic licence and our play is aiming for good entertainment value,” Pauline says.

Set on Inishmaan in 1934 the story revolves around the physically disabled, but very sharp-witted, Billy Claven. Billy dreams of escaping his mundane existence.

When a Hollywood film crew descends on a neighbouring island, and the eccentric inhabitants of Inishmaan find their lives disrupted, and ‘Cripple Billy’ spies an opportunity.

As the island folk navigate the fortunes and challenges presented by the film crew’s arrival, McDonagh weaves a dark comedic tale shadowed by the tragedy and complexities of rural Irish living.

In the Mostrim Players production Billy Claven, the disabled orphan played by Donal Cooney, while Kate Osbourne, Billy's adoptive aunt (known to talk to stones) is Denise Flood, Eileen Osbourne, Billy's other adoptive aunt and Kate's sister (is known to hide candy) is Annette Casey, Johnnypateenmike, the town gossip played by Paddy Donnelly.

The role of Helen McCormick, a tough girl Billy has had a crush on for some time, is taken on by Vanessa Galligan, while Bartley McCormick, Helen's brother (the village idiot) is played by Setanta Flood.

Rounding out the cast is Ray Hussey, who plays Babbybobby Bennett, a boatman whose wife died of tuberculosis, Doctor McSharry, the town doctor played by Padraig Kelly, and Mammy O'Dougal, Johnny's alcoholic 90-year-old mother (is trying to drink herself dead) played by Pauline Flood.

One of the striking features of the Mostrim Players production is that there will be four family members acting on stage together at the same time for the first time. Pauline Flood, her daughter Vanessa Galligan, her grandson Setanta Flood, Setanta’s mum Denise Flood, sees three generations take to the stage for the show.

Pauline says a lot of work goes on behind the scenes: “The play is produced by Kate O'Donoghue-McLoughlin, who is also costume lady, overseer whose work is over and above any expectations, She has been keeping a watchful eye on our rehearsals and cracking the whip alongside Charlie.

“We would like to thank Brendan Doherty and Gerry Burke for all their help in making the set for us.”

Mostrim Players recently celebrated their 10th anniversary with a very successful Pantomime. Pauline says that longevity is thanks to the input of their members and a network of supporters: “We wouldn’t be able to exist without our devoted sponsors especially Creative Ireland, Shannonside Radio, the Longford Leader and others like the Backstage Theatre, The DLI, The YTI, LWETB, local businesses, and a host of others.

“We are always looking for new members of all ages, no one will be turned away.”

Audiences are asked to note that many of the themes of the play are of a delicate nature with strong language and may be unsuitable for young audiences, parental discretion is advised.

Mostrim Players present The Cripple of Inishmaan at Backstage Theatre Longford from Friday, May 17 to Sunday May 19 at 8:00pm, tickets costing €15 are available at Backstage.