Theatre listings: highlights for December 2004

After the phenomenal success of Jim O’Hanlon’s first play The Buddhist Of Castleknock, which attracted enormous audiences, O’Hanlon returns to Draiocht with the searingly honest play Pilgrims In The Park, set during the Pope’s visit to Ireland in 1979. As the Pope travels around in his Popemobile, the Wood Quay debate rages and U2 release their first single, ‘Out Of Control’. With Ireland as a whole at a crossroads, the Foley family is similarly on the brink of huge change, with nothing likely to be the same after this weekend. Pilgrims In The Park runs at Draoicht Arts Centre, Blanchardstown from December 14-18, with a special post-show discussion examining the themes of the play taking place on December 16.
The Dublin Youth Theatre’s Christmas Magic Show continues its run at the Project Arts Centre until December 4. A mixture of Goths, clowns, puppetry, elves and a sprinkling of Christmas magic are all jam packed into this hilarious, yet emotional and festive theatrical tour de force. The play revolves around a school for children’s entertainers, its students and its neurotic head teacher Mr. Spludgit. The result is a vibrant piece of theatre, which exposes the quirky nature and thoughts of a group of imaginative and innovative teenagers. Mr. Spludgit provides the students with the opportunity to exercise these ideas and make lasting friendships - quite similar to Dublin Youth Theatre’s ethos.
Billed as a ‘breezy comedy of modern manners’, Donald Marguiles’ Dinner With Friends continues its run at Andrews Lane Theatre until December 23. Marguilies’ play explores the murky waters of forty-something marital breakdown and the consequences it has, not only for the couple in question but also for their friends. In the early stages, we are introduced to two couples, Beth and Tom and Gabe and Karen. They have been friends for years and expect to see themselves ‘grow old and fat together, the four of us’. However, when Beth and Tom’s marriage breaks down, all bets are off and what follows is a lively play laden with real relationship scenarios and all the warmth, humour, anger and wisdom that comes with life experience.
Following its record breaking summer run, The Shaughraun has returned to the Abbey by popular demand. Dion Boucicault’s highly entertaining, melodramatic play is a combination of a rollicking farce, a fish-out-of-water comedy and a gentle morality play. The dastardly Corey Kinchela, the forces of the crown and a liberal dose of nineteenth century Fenian politics contrive to keep the various lovers apart. But in the end love will triumph with more than a little help from Conn the Shaughraun and his faithful dog Tatters. Featuring Don Wycherly of Bachelor’s Walk fame in a leading role, this is perfect theatrical entertainment for the Yuletide season.