Galway Advertiser 1996/1996_01_25/GA_25011996_E1_025.pdf 

Extracted text

A ' S G U I D E T O G O I N G S

O N A N D G O I N G O U T

Anna Manahan Talks About The Beauty Queen Of Leenane
SHE HAS SPENT her life studying people, emotions, characteristics, problems and possible solutions. Although this experience could qualify her as a psychologist or counsellor, Anna Manahan's profession is acting.
Taking time out mid-rehearsal of The Beauty Queen of Leenane, she spoke to Naomi Richardson about the play, the new Town Hall Theatre and nerve-wracking opening nights. This week is the last week of rehearsals and according to Anna Manahan, it's going very well. The beginning of rehearsals for a new play is always euphoric, she feels, then it becomes augured before coming out of that, to peak. Sometimes rehearsals can peak too soon but Anna believes the timing is going to be perfect. Tomorrow (Friday), rehearsals will move into the actual auditorium of the Town Hall Theatre which Anna has still not seen (but looking forward to!). Aspects of production, including sound and lighting will then be finalised before opening night. "There is always a bit of a shock moving into the theatre from small rehearsals, you lose the intimacy for the first day or two but I am very much enjoying the whole rehearsal process. It's a great pleasure to work with Garry [Hynes - director]. Her rehearsal is always alive and vital and she's is very pleasant to work with. The cast and company are very nice. To work, you must have great rapport - give and take but this is a feature of Druid anyway." Anna feels privileged to be with Druid on the occasion of their 21st Anniversary and the chance to be in the opening play at the Town Hall Theatre. She also appreciates the fact that Galway is finally home to a theatre with the capacity for a large audience. Up to now Galway hasn't had a theatre large enough for companies to bring plays here profitably - causing frustration for both the theatre companies and their Galway audience. There were several productions, starring Anna, including the successful 'Happy Birthday, Dear Alice', that didn't make it to the City of the Tribes because there just wasn't a venue large enough. And now there is, she smiles. 'There are always people there who ly warm and enthusiastic. are just there because it's opening night. "He is quietly confident" which is a I want to get past them and the critics great asset in one so young. It is excit and just want to be with the audience. I ing to work with him because he has a She has promised him that she will play - is particularly well cast she feels light a candle for him, when he takes up And even if the reviews are bad a position, later this year, in the Anna still believes the play is a good National Theatre of England as the one. "It's a cliche, but it's totally true yesterdays newspapers are today's fish and chips wrappings." Referring to her own character, that of a 70 year old woman, is an unsy mpa thetic one. "I am the very possessive mother ofj my daughter, who is around 40. It's a[ sort of love/hate relationship - the love is there but it has become twisted. At the age of 70, my character is afraid of] being left alone in her Connemara cot tage. She is totally lazy and selfish and is clinging to the daughter. She cuts everything that the daughter has away. This is a real story - (plays have become very removed from the story lately, observes Anna) - and one which audiences can appreciate and relate to. She has seen these situations herself, where there is always one member of] the family who will be obliged to look after an ageing parent. There are an awful lot of elderly people out there she acknowledges, that are very brave and live by themselves. If the children are let go, however, they will return because they want to - not because they have to. Although more theatre work is in the pipeline, Anna hopes that The Beauty Queen will be picked up and run in Dublin and Cork and even toured. Galway however, has good memories for her, including some new ones - bet ter than a bouquet of flowers is how she describes the taxi driver who picked her up on Tuesday morning to bring her to rehearsals. "He thanked me for all my perfor mances, which had brought him so much pleasure. He dropped me right to the door and then refused the fare - this] was part of his earnings for the day - I thought it was a lovely gesture and it makes it all worthwhile. Gestures like writer-in-residence. When he is really famous, Anna jokes that are so unexpected and remembered about sending him a bill for the candle, always." interest included. The Beauty Queen Her confidence extends to her direc opens tor and the rest of the cast - Marie Thursday, February 1. Mullen, who plays her daughter in the

want to see the people who want to see the play. The first night is just some thing I want to get through. I feel, how ever, that people will be on our side. Theatre is a sharing experience, and you experience everything at the same' time as the character. Everyone is laughing, crying or gasping at the same time. "There are no barriers - the audience come in as individuals but at some point they become one. I think there is great anticipation for this play and it's a great thrill for us to be in at the birth of a new Anna is not looking forward to open playwright, who has a good future and ing night, however. Despite her experi possibly a great one." While on the subject of the new ence and obvious talent, she claims she author, Martin McDonagh, she is openis always very nervous.

"There are no barriers - the audience come in as individuals but at some point they become one"
certain style of dialogue and is very strict about the way he wants it. He is very down-to-earth and has a maturity that augers well for the future. He has the ability, to blend comedy and drama in a way like O'Casey or John B. Keane."

INSIDE THIS WEEK: Taibhdhearc presents An Bacchae'