Golden years

Frank McGuinness insists that his new play, Gates Of Gold, which opens at the Gate theatre is a “work of fiction”. It may be “inspired” by the “nature of the love between Hilton Edwards and Michael McLiammoir – the actual founders of the Gate theatre – but it’s not a “documentary,” he says.

“There are clearly two characters who have been inspired by Hilton and Michael but it’s not as though I did this play as a commission for the Gate,” he says. “I didn’t. I never do commissions. Unless it’s an adaptation of someone else’s work. Besides if anyone wants the story of Michael and Hilton there are many books on the subject. I was really interested in looking at a relationship that lasted for forty years. And the question of why such long marriages work? Was it working? Can it remain a marriage after so long? Questions like that, as they relate to either a gay marriage or a straight marriage.”

McGuinness himself, of course, is gay and involved in a long-time love affair. But neither is that the tale he’s telling in Gates Of Gold. But as he nears 50 Frank is keenly interested in the subject of ageing and suggests that, despite the presence of his partner, he is “somewhat less happy” than he was the last time I spoke to him for hotpress in 1990. Back then I opened the interview by saying that the image that opened his play The Bread Man, seemed appropriate for Frank himself – a man shadow boxing. As if, with the conflicting forces in his nature. And that if he didn’t get the balance right between those opposing forces he might burn himself out. So how’s he doin’ in terms of that particular fight?

“Actually, I’ve been going now for 20 years, since The Factory Girls was done,” he responds. “And it’s nearly 20 years since Observe The Sons Of Ulster... so there have been plenty of fights, plenty of bruises, plenty of punches thrown! But I was never worried that I might burn myself out. Yet I don’t think anyone gets the balance right, actually. And I do think I had more “oomph” the last time. But then I was in my 30s. Whereas now I feel I’m becoming a bit of an oul’ fella.”

In what sense?

“Well, I certainly don’t hold with the mania for staying young! You won’t be reading about Frank McGuinness getting Botox injections! But, seriously, when you are in your 30s you think you can do everything. Yet the older you get you really learn to say ‘no.’ Particularly to work. About two years ago I hit a period of real, near-exhaustion from over-work and that knocked me on my back for about a week so now I’m more selective. It definitely made me take stock and cut the chord on a lot of projects.”

He is happily accepting of the ageing process, saying he feels “liberated” from some of the more excessive dreams of his youth.

“At one point I was thinking, ‘I’m going to take on Hollywood, win Oscars, all that,” he explains.”But as you do get nearer 50 you realise ‘thank fuck I never set foot in Hollywood’. That’s why I’m still alive! I certainly couldn’t have given a year of my life to writing Gates Of Gold had I gone to Hollywood!”

Gates Of Gold is described by the Gate theatre itself as, “a passionate, witty and moving play” which, “offers a fascinating glimpse of two lives devoted to each other and to the theatre they founded”. It features Richard Johnson, Alan Howard, Rosaleen Linehen, Donna Dent and James Kennedy and is directed by Patrick Mason. Set and costume design is by Joe Vanek and lighting by Paul Keogan.

Given that Edwards and MacLiammoir were gay and this play is written by a gay playwright and directed by a gay director, Frank agrees that if they don’t get it right “no one will”. Let’s wait and see.