I have been a fan of Druid since 2009 when I saw Druids production of The Gigli Concert by Tom Murphy and I was luck enough to see the epic award-winning DruidMurphy 2012 productions of Conversations on a Homecoming and A Whistle in the Dark last year The 2013 DruidMurphy Irish Tour from April until June is currently underway. They have the vast majoriory of the same cast from the 2012 production with a minior changes. In Conversations on a Homecoming Judith Roddy and Charlotte McCurry are taking on the roles of Anne and Peggy respectively this time around. Rory Nolan takes over as Liam and so Stephen Jones plays his 2012 production role of Junior. In A Whistle in the Dark there are some minior casting changes too. Garrett Lombard play Harry this time round so Edwin Mullane plays his 2012 role of Hugo. Maelíosa Stafford ( who coincidentally played Junior. in their first production of ‘Conversations on a Homecoming’ in 1986 and the role of Hugo in ‘Whistle’ in 1987) replaces Niall Buggy as Dada . Judith Roddy play Betty this time around replacing Eileen Walsh. I saw both plays last year and judging by the pictures this year the costumes are different in some cases such as Dada and makeup have given Rory Nolan sideburns. Conversations on a Homecoming is hilariously good and coming back in the following evening I didn’t know what expect with A Whistle in the Dark I had read the script and knew that was going to be dark but there are just something’s that aren’t effective until they are prented on stage. The 2012 Whistle in the Dark set was made partially of steel metal and a effective moment involved a milk bottle being thrown againist it, the pieces cascading in a million little pieces it was a visual image and it represented for me and the rest of audience present that night a dark shift in proceedings, coupled with slamming of the the door ,the musicial score, and stage fading to black. I felt it partially showed the audiance what was to come as the interval arrived.
I hope we aren’t too much trouble” says Dada when he lands over from Ireland to Coventry, to stay with his son Michael, with his youngest son Des in tow. ‘Trouble’ is one way of putting it!! Pictured here is the brilliant Maelíosa Stafford in the role of A Whistle in the Dark. 2013 Photo by Colm Hogan
Judith Roddy (Betty), Marty Rea (Michael) in DruidMurphy: A Whistle in the Dark by Tom Murphy, directed by Garry Hynes. Photo by Colm Hogan
Overall over the two nght.the casts were were excellent . even though the plays fall into two separate catogories.( comedy drama and drama) Aaron Monaghan was superb over the two night . As a local media Arts correspondent commented the day after I saw A Whistle in the Dark “it is the first time we see him being menacing”. this is true, A Whistle in the Dark gave Monaghan the opportunity to show regular Druid goers and new theatre goers alike his dark side and to play a Druid villain.
DruidMurphy Conversations on a Homecoming cast 2012 Photo Credit : Druid Timeline Photos
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Tour dates til the end of June
The Gaiety Theatre, Dublin over!
Photo Credit Druid Timeline Photos
Dunamaise, Portlaoise
May 14 – 18, 2013
glor, Ennis
May 21 – 25, 2013
An Grianán, Letterkenny
May 28 – June 1, 2013
Backstage, Longford
June 4 – 8, 2013
Pavilion Theatre, Dún Laoghaire
June 11 – 15, 2013
Lime Tree Theatre, Limerick
June 18 – 22, 201
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Listen To Tom Murphy Interview
Tom Murphy, and his wife Jane Brennan, recently chatted to Miriam O’Callaghan on RTÉ’s Miriam Meets about working together and about how they met in 1985 when Druid premieredConversations on a Homecoming. You can listen back to the podcast here.Above section taken from (http://createsend.com/t/r-57A7BF44853F1EE12540EF23F30FEDED)
- Letters to Dead People and Others (tomobrien2004blog.wordpress.com)
- Entry 2 (charliekelly1992.wordpress.com)
- Time to Man Up and Make the Call (samiusgurobo.com)
The View from The DJ booth 