REVIEW: Bachelor’s search for love brings plenty of laughs at Longford theatre's production of The Chastitute

THERE was plenty of craic, comedy and a touch of nostalgia at Backstage Theatre in Longford Town as John B Keane’s much-loved play The Chastitute brought the trials and tribulations of the Irish bachelor to life.

At the heart of the play is a rural bachelor whose efforts to find a bride and finally settle down provide the comic centrepiece of the story.

With music from The Coffee Beans setting the scene for the opening night of the play on Thursday, Ger Rafferty stole the show as the hapless John Bosco McLaine, whose quest to find a wife provided plenty of laughs

Presented in tribute to the late actor and director Gus Hanley, the production saw Rafferty deliver a standout performance in the lead role, bringing energy and character to the stage. Dancing onto the stage in both halves, he helped set the pace for a production that celebrated Keane’s much-loved play and the enduring appeal of live theatre. Rafferty has also perfected the sheepish farmer's walk.

No doubt the spirit of Mr Hanley was felt through the fun and laughter brought by The Chastitute. He directed the play at Backstage Theatre back in 1998.

Rafferty embodied the character of the unlucky-in-love John Bosco very well also offering a nostalgic look back at old rural Ireland and an insight into the mind of an Irish bachelor. “I'd marry any woman from 30 to old age pension,” he exclaims exasperated by his failure to find a bride.

Mikey Mollaghan and John Kelly who play the gentle and cross missionaries respectively both gave great performances, bringing such fun to the production, particularly with their dancing toward the end of the show!

One standout scene was between John Bosco and Tom Lyons who plays the chaotic Mickey Molly. Mickey decides to ask John Bosco a few questions to inspect if his body is in working order for a relationship. I enjoyed Rafferty's delivery of the quip, “This is like a bull inspection.”

There's also a hilarious portrayal of a sleeping drunk given by Laura Brennan who plays Heather. I enjoyed the exchange between John Bosco and Heather's mother played by Mary Hughes. Mary encapsulates the typical nosey Irish mother very well as Heather's mother insists on meeting her daughter's suitor and proceeds to flirt with him unashamedly.

The laughs are also provided by Christine O'Brien who takes on the role of John Bosco's new housekeeper, Eva Kishock who was far more concerned with her job than a romance until she met the charming chancer Sylvester Brady played by Davy Flaherty. “There's a jinx on me, there has to be,” says John Bosco as a result.

I particularly enjoyed the craic and comedy brought to the production by Declan Neville as the local priest, Fr Kimmerley who doesn’t show much patience for John Bosco in confession, telling him to say three Hail Mary's and “get out of my sight.” He also hilariously shuts down the bachelor's idea to join the priesthood. “Well so long as it remains a notion, we've nothing to worry about.”

The crew cannot be forgotten either as the staging of the simple set with a little stove and table and chairs definitely captures the vibe of an ageing bachelor's pad very well. It also felt like there was little bar on stage during the scenes when John Bosco goes out for a few drinks and this was only added to by the soundtrack from The Coffee Beans.

The Chastitute came to an enjoyable close with the chorus dancing to the tune of Declan Nerney's, 'Stop The World And Let Me Off.'

The acclaimed comedy drama runs for three nights until Saturday, October 17.