Review: THE BEAUTY QUEEN OF LEENANE at Mark Taper Forum
By: Don Grigware Nov. 17, 2016
The Druid production of/The Beauty Queen of Leenane/by Martin McDonagh/directed by Garry Hynes/Mark Taper Forum/through December 18
For the most part, brilliantly written classic plays make their locale the main character of the piece. Think of Tennessee Williams. All of his plays take place in the American South; poverty-stricken New Orleans sets the background for Streetcar among other plays. In Martin McDonagh's The Beauty Queen of Leenane, the small town of Leenane in Connemara, County Galway, Ireland not only displays the frequent rainy, dismal atmosphere for Mag Folan (Marie Mullen) and daughter Maureen (Aisling O'Sullivan), but it sets the lugubrious tone of isolation that cripples and destroys them. Now on the Taper stage through December 18 the Druid Company of Galway who originated the play in 1996, which went on to win four Tonys on Broadway in 1998, presents a stark portrait that lingers in the mind long after one leaves the theatre.
Mag, 71, is an unbearably nagging and possessive mother. Maureen, in her forties, is her mother's caretaker and without a speck of love in her life...due primarily to Mag's direct interference ...like not telling her about invitations and burning letters written to her by possible gentleman callers. Two men are in and out of the action in the play, nearby brothers, Ray (Aaron Monaghan) and Pato Dooley (Marty Rea), who have known the Folans all their lives. The former even has a date with Maureen and sleeps with her to the dismay and disgust of Mag who discovers him the morning after. Mag has revolting habits like dumping a pan of pee in the kitchen sink every morning, stinking up the place, and insisting that Maureen consistently bring her tea, porridge or biscuits, when she is not tending to the chickens on their farm... not allowing her daughter a moment's peace. She is a typically despicable character who brings misery to every life she touches.
Playwright McDonagh repeatedly describes the long climb up the hill to The Farm. The Folans are isolated from the rest of the world. Mag prefers it that way, excusing her arthritis for staying home. Maureen, who we later find out, had lived in England at one time in order to work and had spent time in a loony bin after a nervous breakdown, is starving for male companionship. When Pato is in the mother's presence the morning after his and Maureen's tryst, she parades around in her underwear, paws him and sits sensuously on his lap, out of need...and to deliberately infuriate Mag. The mother/daughter conflict never lets up for a split second. McDonagh, lets the intense friction grow between them in Act One, until their fury becomes a powder keg which explodes and overtakes them both in Act Two. Despite the fact that Beauty Queen is a drama, there are dark comedic overtones throughout. Ray's impatient visits with Mag are hilarious. He's a real spunky tease and loves getting under her skin. The playwright makes tremendous use of repetition and emphasis, making the listener almost cringe with laughter at the sound of certain words, phrases and whole sentences. Yes, like Williams, McDonagh is indeed a poet.
Under Garry Hynes splendid direction, the actors give sparkling performances, feasting on every word and action. O'Sullivan wears Maureen's desperation like a garment. She makes us root for her escape. Mullen never misses an opportunity to make the cranky Mag an obnoxious force of nature, who relishes every second she is demeaning Maureen. Rea is wonderfully kind, caring and supportive as Pato. The opening of Act Two, as he addresses the audience with his letter to Maureen, is one of the most touching and tender moments in the play. As already mentioned, Monaghan as Ray steals his scenes with his terribly delicious spurts of humor.
There is some question as to the validity of Maureen's actions in the final scenes. Did she see Pato at the train station before he left for Boston, as she claims? Did she, in fact, commit a crime? It may all be in her mind. What is certain is that her mental state is as it is because of the unruly Mag, and the extreme isolation that Leenane has provided her. Don't miss this brilliantly written, directed and acted young classic The Beauty Queen of Leenane through December 18! After the Taper, the play begins an extensive tour.
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