The Tinker’s Wedding – by J.M. Synge (drama/comedy)
Directed by Robert Wall
About the Playwright: Born in 1871 in Rathfarnham, Co. Dublin, Synge is arguably one of Ireland’s greatest playwrights – penning such remarkable works as In the Shadow of the Glen, Riders to the Sea, The Well of Saints, and his masterpiece, The Playboy of the Western World. He has inspired playwrights from Sean O’Casey and Samuel Beckett in his own time to Martin McDonagh today.
Discovered in a Parisian attic by Yeats in 1899, and later urged by him to stay awhile on the Aran Islands and devote himself to the creation of meaningful Irish literature, he wrote only 6 plays before his untimely death at age 38 from Hodgkin’s Disease. His plays created an unprecedented degree of excitement and controversy for their unsentimental portrayal of Irish life and their earthy, direct language The opening of Playboy at the Abbey Theatre in 1907 attracted such a hostile public reaction that it ultimately provoked a riot.
It was for this reason that Synge himself made no effort to produce The Tinker’s Wedding that same year, citing that it “will probably upset a good many of our Dublin friends”. The play was first produced in London two years later, but did not make it to the Abbey stage until 60 years after his death.
Mary MacMartin (Mary Byrne)
A loyal & dedicated Tara Player from the outset, Mary’s first role was in their inaugural production of In the Shadow of the Glen, where she played Nora at St. Ignatius hall for Folklorama in 1973. She has performed many memorable roles since that time. She won the Best Actor award at the first Acting Irish International Theatre Festival in Winnipeg in 1994 for her role as Theresa in Remembrance. We are delighted to witness Mary’s return to the Tara Players stage.
Kieran Savage (Michael Byrne)
Kieran has been with the Tara Players since 1993 and has appeared in numerous roles. His first role was as the drumming monkey in Ritual for Dolls, the Tara Players official entry into the 1993 Winnipeg Fringe Festival, a production he remembers fondly. Kieran performed most recently in the role of Mr. Macleod in John Kevin’s The Patience of Patients for the Tara Players 2004-2005 Season, and pledges to continue to perform in at least one show per season with the Tara Players.
Siobhan Keely (Sarah Casey)
Siobhan has performed with the Tara Players since 1989, when she first appeared in Sean O’Casey’s The Moon Shines Over Kylenamoe. She also performs regularly with The Postage Stamp Players, including last year’s co-production with the Tara Players entitled Black Comedy. This season, Siobhan will also appear in the acclaimed Billy Roche play Poor Beast in the Rain, Tara’s April production and 2006 A.I.I.T.F entry in Toronto.
Aidan O’Rourke (a Priest)
Aidan served as Artistic Director for the Tara Players from 2001-2005 and also acts and directs. His first role was Simey in Tara’s 1974 production of J.B.Keane’s Year of the Hiker. His favourite roles include Christie in Playboy of the Western World, Seamus in The Shadow of a Gunman, and Mickey in The Good Thing. Great to have you back on stage Aidan!
The Crew:
Director Robert Wall
Assistant Director/Stage Manager April Gregoria
Set Design Martin Molloy
Set Construction Team Ted MacMartin, Martin Molloy, Peter McConvillle, Tom Holder, Sidney Gray
Lighting Design Omar Khan
