‘A couple of degrees above normality’

Clones Drama Group have opted for a tried and tested play as they perform ‘Playboy of the Western World’ on their debut run at the All Ireland Festival Circuit.

When Harry Cleary picks up the phone on Wednesday morning, Clones Drama Group are still savouring the afterglow of a well received performance the night before. Rush Drama Festival was the stage for their first ever outing on the All Ireland.

“It went very well, we had a very positive reaction from the audience and from the adjudicator so we are very happy,” reports Harry.

The Celt wonders about the choice of staging JM Synge’s classic play; arguably the most famous Irish stage drama.

“I did the play about 20 years ago, more maybe, with director Tom Flynn and one thing he said at the time was ‘You’ll never forget the language in the play’. And he was dead right. It leaves a huge impression - the language and poetry of the script. I’ve always wanted to direct it.”

He believes Playboy has stood the test of time because of its focus on how we can “elevate really heinous crimes”.

“We make heroes of people who do awful things. I think that still happens today. That’s what keeps it relevant, it’s one of those plays that seems to hit the mark.”

Harry marvels at how Synge’s peerless writing manages to take a “very savage crime” and craft it into a “very entertaining” drama.

“There is that anomaly with it,” he reflects.

“It has to be the most chaotic action in Irish theatre history - it’s just incredible what happens, and the energy expended when everything comes to a head.”

For Harry, the absurdity of the characters, the plot and this heightened action places demands on the tone of the performance.

“From a direction point of view I stressed from the start that everybody had to be larger than life. If you can hit that ‘larger-than-life’ mark. I think it works with an audience.

“I’ve seen productions of it where it doesn’t work - it’s very easy to do it badly.

“If you try to play it as normal life it doesn’t work. The characters have to be larger than life all the way through. They have to be that couple of degrees above normality, and the cast in this one really do come up to that mark - they have created characters that are larger than life, and yet at the same time you have Pegeen and Christy playing an enchantment, a very real love affair. It’s a lovely contrast as well.”

Clones has a proud history in drama. The town’s drama society was one of the first to win the All Ireland, claiming the national title in 1953 with a production of Walter Macken’s play ‘Mungo’s Mansion’. Their spiritual successors, the current Clones Drama Group formed out of a Peace and Reconciliation project about 20 years ago, is now proud to carry on that tradition of competing on a national stage.

Clones Drama Group are used to being well received when playing within the Farney boundaries, and did so again when they performed Playboy for a trio of sold out shows in at the border town’s Courthouse venue last month. But how they would they fare on the road?

“When we discussed going on the circuit at the start, one of the group members said it would be great to find out how an audience - other than our local audience - receives what we’re doing. And as an exercise in that, it has been brilliant. It has been great to have an audience who don’t know the cast personally, to see them react to their performances.”

The Celt was moved to interview Harry after seeing photographer Rory Geary’s shots of dress rehearsals. The photos were almost painterly compositions, reflecting both Rory’s talent, but also the skill of the Clones cast and crew.

“They really stepped above themselves in the wardrobe, set and make-up department - it’s the best looking show we’ve every done anyway. I have to say that, it’s a credit to the crew.

“It has really stretched each of the departments - the lighting, wardrobe and all the unsung departments - it has really stretched them, in a good way,” says Harry of the All Ireland.

With one festival show under the Clones belt, Harry fully appreciates what they have in store.

“It’s a huge effort to get the show on the road and now we have to maintain it for two weeks. It’s a very intense two weeks - we have six festivals to do.

“The danger of the festival circuit is that it can wear groups out, because the effort is so intense, so we just have to avoid that and make it a good experience all round.”

One date they anticipate will provide a good experience is when they have the honour of closing the Cavan Drama Festival on Saturday, March 14 in front of adjudicator Alan Haslett.

“The play suits some venues - it really suited Rush last night and I think it will really suit the Townhall in Cavan,” says Harry.

They will perform Playboy of the Western World in Monaghan Town’s Garage Theatre on Saturday, April 11. That date will provide either a fitting swan’s song to their production, or a significant milestone in their preparation for the Confined All Ireland Finals in Carrickmore. Time will tell. For Harry they are already in bonus territory.

“It would be great to qualify for an All Ireland, but at the same time I want the group to be in the position where they want to do it again.

“That would be a big success.”