Synge's iconic 'Playboy' for Navan stage later this month

'The Playboy of the Western World', JM Synge's acclaimed work set in Mayo in 1907 is set to entertain audiences, as the darkly comic drama is presented by Navan Theatre Group as their 20th anniversary production from Wednesday 23rd to Sunday 27th November in Solstice Arts Centre, Navan. All of the drama takes place in the shebeen owned by Michael James Flaherty, performed by Des Lynch and he has more interest in attending the local wakes and having a wee drop than minding the pub, which he leaves in the hands of Pegeen Mike his feisty young daughter, played by Katy Leech. She is resigned to her loveless match to Shawn Keogh, (Maurice Walsh) until Christy enters her dull life with wondrous tales of courage and bravery. Whether the Playboy Christy Mahon performed by Nigel Ryan is a loveable rogue or a murderous villain who tries not once but twice to kill his father Old Mahon, (John O'Sullivan) and captures the heart of Pegeen Mike with stories of his deeds is all a matter of debate. However, director Johnnie Grant says: "The language is the greatest strength of Synge's Playboy. Our challenge is to do justice to the words, the lilt of the language, the music of the phrasing while at the same time presenting the comic farcical nature of the play". Johnnie who has been involved with Navan Theatre Group for many years and has actively promoted drama in Dunshaughlin Community College where he teaches has placed the play in the hands of a very strong cast that brings some well known performers and some new members to the stage. This production sees the return of Nöelle Tobin as the spirited and earthy Widow Quin whose tussle with Pegeen Mike for Christy is one of the play's highlights. In an interesting turn of acting events Nöelle previously played Pegeen Mike in a production by Trim Drama Group. Frank Poole as Jimmy Farrell has been a long time favourite with audiences and Seamus McMenamin in his second performance with the group is Philly Cullen, two small farmers who provide a comic take on the events as they unfold. Ruth Collins who's previous role was as the high society Lady Windermere, plays one of the giggling country girls who so admires the feats of the bold Christy. She is joined by Elaine McDonald and Aideen O'Sullivan who are new members of Navan Theatre Group and Iseult Caffrey who is making a return to the Navan stage. They plead and cajole their hero Christy to participate in the local games, where Christy wins the big race riding the slowest mule! The girls are joined later by other villagers including Liam " Brádaigh Brian Walsh and other group members. Playboy is one of the best known Irish dramas and will be remembered by many Leaving Certificate students down through the years; however this is the first time it has been performed by Navan Theatre Group. Leaving the last word to Synge who wrote in 1907: "In Ireland we have a popular imagination that is fiery and magnificent, and tender; so that those of us who write start with a chance that is not given to writers in places where the springtime of the local life is forgotten, and the harvest is a memory only, and the straw has been turned to bricks" The Playboy of the Western World, Wednesday 23rd - Sun 27th November, Solstice Arts Centre, Navan, 8pm. Tickets €15/€13 on 046 909 2300 or www.solsticeartscentre.ie.