Is
The Beauty Queen of Leenane by
Martin McDonagh a black comedy or a bleak tragedy? Or does it really matter? The important thing being that it's been getting five star reviews since it opened in Dublin last month, after receiving rave reviews for its season at the Young Vic in London last year. And the same production is coming back to do another spin here in 2011.
McDonagh might not be a household name, but he won a BAFTA for his film
In Bruges, and there are many moments of the same sort of slightly uncomfortable, but cleverly written and comically emotional dialogue in this, his first play.
From the glorious, star-studded sounding introduction, prepare yourself for something grittier when it comes to a brief synopsis. Set entirely in a rather shabby, poorly lit kitchen in Leenane, Connemara in the early 90s, this play charts the stories of Mag and Maureen Folan, a mother and daughter chained together in a rather claustrophobic routine, that daughter Maureen longs to escape from –
but then if she leaves, who will be there to stir the lumps out of hypochondriac Mag's Compan?
Manipulative Mag must keep a wry eye over the last of her daughters to fly the nest, as even 40 year old spinsters still have a chance for romance and happiness – or do they? It's an up and down ride as, against this seemingly simple, damp backdrop, all sorts of intrigues of sex, loneliness and dysfunction are played out when virgin Maureen finally meets a potential suitor.
But now this review seems to have taken a step too far towards the dark side. While it's bleak, this is also a desperately funny play – watching this old witch of an lady enforce her will on her daughter is quite comical at times. And even though the feeling of damp, desolate boredom of rural Ireland is overwhelmingly sad, there's also plenty of comically uncomfortable situations that spring from it. Making this a play that you could both laugh and cry at - if you're that sort of a sensitive soul.
