PLAYBOY
OF THE WESTERN WORLD
Directed
by Eddie Baldwin
NODA
Review
The curtains opened to a superb set, you could almost smell
the peat, but just as I sat back to enjoy I could not
understand what Margaret Flaherty, played by Zoe Duffin was
saying. This is very unusual as she has always had good
diction on stage. The opening lines of a play like this
need to be understood as they give you the story, and this
is the main problem when an excellent accent is not what is
required but the flavour of one. It did get better but I
think she should have been more feisty and livelier. She's
a hard nut and it is only the dark side of Christopher
which attracts her, and these light-and-shade moments did
not come across.
In contrast I heard every word of Russell Ditchfield's
Shawn who was just right in his characterisation. John
Johnson did well with the part of Margaret's father as did
his two sidekicks Allan Mayer and Alan Pearson with Philly
and Jimmy.
The three young girls from the village, Sara, Honor and
Susan performed their little cameos very well and it's good
to see members of the youth group coming through.
Ken Moss gave a performance he can be pleased with and the
same could be said of his dad in the play, Barry Callander.
As Christopher and Old Mahon they both excelled.
For the ladies Wyn Tootell once again put in a super
performance as the Widow Quinn. This is a lovely gentle
comedy and they all did well with it with a special pat on
the back to the set construction team and those who dressed
it.
