JOHN B Keane’s complex Big Maggie is being brought to the Pallasgreen Community Centre by the Grean Drama Group.
The curtain will fall at 8.15pm on this Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, January 26, 27 and 28. Ann O’Dwyer, producer, promises an entertaining night like all John B’s plays.
“It is a little bit different from the usual. Even though Big Maggie is always portrayed as a very hard and cold character we’ve to wait until the end to find out why she is like that. We get to the guts of her. Most people think she is a right tyrant but it is only when you see it and follow her life that you discover there is an awful lot more to this woman,” said Ann.
The cast of 12 have been rehearsing two or even three nights a week since the beginning of November.
“It is a huge commitment from everybody. For example, Jenny Mulcahy who plays Big Maggie. She has three small children and she works as well. We had a dress rehearsal this week and I was delighted for them that it went off so well,” said Ann.
They are hoping to see many young faces in the audience as Big Maggie is on the Leaving Cert syllabus.
“The play brings it to life for them and we will be available afterwards if they want to meet and talk about the characters. We are trying to make the characters as real as possible and give each one a very true identity within themselves. That way, at least, if people are doing it in the Leaving Cert they can actually identify with a character and find out a little bit more,” said Ann, whose passion shines through.
Another passionate Pallasgreen person, award-winning producer Eamon Harty is involved backstage.
“We couldn’t have it without him,” said Ann, who thinks that amateur drama is sometimes superior to the professionals.
“Amateur actors get into the characters and try to make them as real as possible whereas the professionals are just in and out.
“Sometimes they are fantastic but I have seen some productions and they are not in it at all – they are not living the character. You have to dig into a person’s character to bring it across and I am hoping we will do that,” said Ann.
Tickets €10 for adults and €5 for U-12s.
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