FOLIO
by DICK KEREKES
The theatre department of Jacksonville University presented Irish playwright Brian Friel’s Tony Award Winning play Dancing at Lughnasa for a one weekend run on April 3, 4, and 5 on the stage of Swisher Theatre. If you missed this fine production and have never seen it, there was a movie version made in l998 starring Meryl Streep that you may be able to find on the internet.
The story concerns five unmarried sisters living in rural Ireland in l936 and is told through the eyes of a 7 year old boy, now grown and reflecting on his childhood.
The boy’s mother is Chris (Annie Lorenzana) an attractive somewhat vain female who had her son out of wedlock. The oldest sister is Kate (Laura Peterson) the matriarch of the family, who hopes her strong Catholic faith will keep the family together. The next oldest is Agnes(Rachel Hineman) who restrained and quiet spending most of her time caring for Rose (Janae Lafleur) as they both knit gloves to sell in the town. The fifth sister is Maggie (Meredith Brown) is the fun loving type and likes to cook, who has dreams of her own.
Returning home after many years as a Catholic chaplain in Africa is Father Jack (Randon Lee Wilkins) who appears to have lost his vocation after being exposed to pagan rituals and suffering from malaria and now lives in another world with his loss of memory.
Gerry (Milton Threadcraft III) is Chris’ true love and the father of Michael, who makes an annual visit. This year he even offers to marry Chris, when he comes back again. He is on his way to fight in the Spanish Civil War, leaving his current job as gramophone salesman.
Samuel J. Smid as Michael was the narrator of the action as it occurred in l936, and spoke the lines of the child, while the sisters simulated action with the boy.
To single out individual excellence would merely re-state the cast list. Their Irish accents were right on the mark, easy to understand and sounded very authentic to me. The sisters’ delightful and spirited dancing to Irish music from their prized possession, a radio, was their release from the complexities of a hard emotional and financial life.
Set Designer Colleen Sharp and Technical Director Ben Wilson and their student construction crew, created a raked stage representing the cottage living area, in the center of the main stage. The creative lighting and picture perfect period costumes (by Costume Designer Argie Mitra), made this a visual delight.
Allison Steadman, Assistant Professor of Costume Design, made her Jacksonville University directorial debut and her definitive direction conveyed the full, real, and honest characters in the script. It is so well written that we got to know each sister’s individual temperament and talents.
The production staff included Matt Wilson (Assistant Director), Glenn Fleming (Ballroom Choreography), Suzie Rogerson and Greta Belanus (Bohemian Choreography) and Clenton Hollinger (Stage Management.
Jacksonville University’s next theatre production is Jack & Jill: A Romance on April l5th in Swisher Theatre.
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