Review: OUTSIDE MULLINGAR at IRISH CLASSICAL THEATRE

RURAL IRISH COMEDY WHERE EMOTIONS RUN HIGH AND LOW

by Michael Rabice

As one would expect, Irish themed plays are best done by those who understand the people and terrain of Ireland. Pulitzer prize winning author John Patrick Shanley's newest play, OUTSIDE MULLINGAR, fresh from it's recent Broadway premiere, is receiving a touching, yet comedic production at Buffalo's Irish Classical Theatre.

Irish theatre often plays out in dark settings with drab clothing, where downtrodden families work the fields under overcast or rainy skies in rural areas, implying this is the only way of living life in Ireland. While OUTSIDE MULLINGAR does nothing to break from these stereotypes, it does bring a great depth of understanding into what forms the lives of it's characters.

Shanley, best know for his play DOUBT and screenplay of MOONSTRUCK, has based this play on members of his own family, and a love/hate relationship between two familes, ala the Capulets and Montagues. Meet the Reillys- an aging farmer (Tony) and his middle aged son (Anthony), who ultimately does not share his father's love of farming. Now enter the Muldoons, who live next door, or more precisely, the next farm over. Mother Muldoon (Aoife), is grieving her husband's recent death while her forlorn daughter, Rosemary, has a been secretly pining for Anthony. The themes of familial obligation versus love are explored, often underlining the notion that true love may not actually be present among all family members.

Under the deft direction of Fortunato Pezzimenti, the action unfolds in a series of scenes that play out like brief one act plays, giving the viewer a glimpse of life behind closed doors. Guy Wagner, as Tony, is the embodiment of a stodgy old Irish farmer, who still wants to rule the roost, despite his failing health. His entitlement to his farm, as well as all the comes with being aged, is offset by his son's indifference to the drudgery of a farming lifestyle. Wagner looked appropriately weathered in appearance, and was utterly convincing as the man entitled to his own decisions, despite what others may think . Shanley has written Anthony as a deeply brooding character who is uncomfortable in his own skin, and prone to dismiss situations or wax peotically with Irish proverbs as a coping mechanism. Patrick Moltane, as Anthony, starts out almost too indifferent towards his lot in life. The script appears to call for angst in it's opening scenes and Moltane recites the lines with a lilting brogue, but didn't inhabit the role beyond a one note tone, with few crescendos in his angry passages. He eventually builds to the character's full potential, but the arc getting there was slow. Whether this was a directorial decision or actor's perogative to remain cool throughout remains unclear.

Later Wagner and Moltane settle in to a touching death bed scene where the two men express their true inner feelings for each other. Beautifully lit by lighting designer Brian Cavanagh, the intimate scene showed the details of Pezzimenti's thoughtful direction.

Stage veteran Pamela Rose Mangus was perfect as the grieving widow, who in life may have deferred to her husband, but understands family obligation. We learn of a tract of land that subdivides the two families property, and therein lies the rub for these two families. Mangus' multilayered portrayal of the infirmed farmer's wife allows this matron to shine as the sage, delineating what she believes is right.

Kate LoConti (Rosemary), fresh off her success in last season's AFTER MISS JULIE, brings a thoughtful performance full of wit, well placed pauses and spot on timing. Much of this comedy lies in her portrayal, with a plot twist hinging on a childhood incident that leaves both families perplexed. In ACT II of this production, the sparring between LoConti and Moltane builds to a brilliant frenzy, as the two realize their true inner feelings for each other. Moltane bloomed in this scene from a nervous school boy to a man who exposes his inner demons and anxiety . Laughs abound as Moltane's blustery nature goes head to head with LoConti's comic persistence, leading to an unexpected happy ending.

OUTSIDE MULLINGAR plays from Oct 30 to Nov 22, 2015 at the Andrews Theatre, 625 Main Street Buffalo, NY 14203 Tickets are available at the Box Office - (716) 853-ICTC or at Irishclassicaltheatre.com

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