2008 Woodie Awards
'Entertaining' performance from 'Dancing at Lughnasa'
Lauren Tilton
Issue date: 2/21/08 Section: A & E
As sophomore Lauren Gibbons entered the Edgerton Center for the Performing Arts on Sunday afternoon, she had no idea what she was in for. A set, made to represent a small Irish cottage sat on the stage. Traditional Irish music filled the air. When the lights went up, she was brought back to 1936 Ballybeg, a small town in Donegal, Ireland.
This past weekend, the English and Modern Foreign Language departments sponsored a production of "Dancing at Lughnasa," a Tony award-winning play by Brian Friel.
"The play was interesting, and definitely made me think about how depressing and oppressive life could be in Ireland in the 1930's," said Gibbons.
"Dancing at Lughnasa" is told through the memories of Michael, played by senior Shaun Mitchell, 25 years after that fateful summer before everything changed.
It is his memories of his mother and her four sisters, all unmarried and trying to live the best they can in their repressed lives.
"The play is about a family's last happy summer together with only the tunes of a slowly dying radio to keep their spirits alive," said freshman Molly Celona, who played Rose.
The Mundy sisters rely on each other just as much as they support each other while their distinctive characteristics each contribute to the unique family style in their own special way.
This summer happens "right before disaster strikes, when things unsaid are more devastating than things said," explained Mitchell, resulting in the family being torn apart and sending each character off on his or her "own distinct spiritual search," as according to the play.
Although the playbill suggested that the play dealt with "identity, the notion of truth, and communication," many students offered other suggestions including desperation, depression, loneliness, or buried deep within it the hope for a better tomorrow.
"I think that the playwright wanted to suggest the power of dormant feelings coming into the forefront and how to handle them," said Mitchell. "I learned that all families must depend on each other and trust each other."
This past weekend, the English and Modern Foreign Language departments sponsored a production of "Dancing at Lughnasa," a Tony award-winning play by Brian Friel.
"The play was interesting, and definitely made me think about how depressing and oppressive life could be in Ireland in the 1930's," said Gibbons.
"Dancing at Lughnasa" is told through the memories of Michael, played by senior Shaun Mitchell, 25 years after that fateful summer before everything changed.
It is his memories of his mother and her four sisters, all unmarried and trying to live the best they can in their repressed lives.
"The play is about a family's last happy summer together with only the tunes of a slowly dying radio to keep their spirits alive," said freshman Molly Celona, who played Rose.
The Mundy sisters rely on each other just as much as they support each other while their distinctive characteristics each contribute to the unique family style in their own special way.
This summer happens "right before disaster strikes, when things unsaid are more devastating than things said," explained Mitchell, resulting in the family being torn apart and sending each character off on his or her "own distinct spiritual search," as according to the play.
Although the playbill suggested that the play dealt with "identity, the notion of truth, and communication," many students offered other suggestions including desperation, depression, loneliness, or buried deep within it the hope for a better tomorrow.
"I think that the playwright wanted to suggest the power of dormant feelings coming into the forefront and how to handle them," said Mitchell. "I learned that all families must depend on each other and trust each other."
Be the first to comment on this story