In association with officialkeithduffy.com
In association with
November 2011 - February 2012
Galway & Irish Tour
Teddy Heelin
Keith made his Druid debut as one of Keane’s most memorable characters, the lusty commercial traveller Teddy Heelin.
Maggie Polpin (Aisling O’Sullivan) is a just widowed mother of four living in rural Ireland, now sole owner of the family shop and farm. She is a complex figure, far from the clichés of Irish femininity which preceded her. This is a hard-bitten, uncompromising woman who puts her personal security above all other concerns. She rejects the place which cultural precedent has laid out for her and chooses to drive all of her children away rather than nurture them like a mother hen.
First to go is the eldest son, promised a share of the business by his late father and eager to take what he feels he is owed. When Maggie reveals there is no will and that the old man had signed over everything to her one year before, the son realises his options are limited and he must either leave home or live under his mother’s control. He chooses the former. As the play progresses, Maggie confronts each of her children, shattering their image of themselves until all of them have been forced to leave the nest. She always maintains the position that it is for their own good and that they must learn how hard and cruel the world really is.
Big Maggie by John B. Keane, is set in 1960s rural Ireland. It is a compelling portrait of a woman who is determined to take control of her life following the death of her husband. Shocking for its time – the play premiered in 1969 – the portrait that Keane painted of the dark side of Irish family life seems now to be eerily prescient.
SOURCE: Mayo Advertiser
Aisling O’Sullivan, Sarah Greene, Stephen Mullan, Paul Connaughton, Charlie Murphy, John Olohan
Galway - Town Hall Theatre
November 11 – 19, 2011
Dublin - The Gaiety Theatre
November 21 – 26, 2011
Ennis - glór
November 28 -29, 2011
Cork - Everyman Palace Theatre
Dec 1 – 3, 2011
Castlebar - Royal Theatre
December 6 – 7, 2011
Tralee - Siamsa Tíre
December 9 – 11, 2011
Portlaoise - Dunamaise
December 14 – 15, 2011
Roscommon - Roscommon Arts Centre
December 17 – 18, 2011
Longford - Backstage Theatre
December 20 – 22, 2011
Sligo - Hawk's Well Theatre
January 18 – 21, 2012
Galway - Town Hall Theatre
January 24 – 28, 2012
Dublin - Gaiety Theatre
January 30, 2012 – February 11, 2012
'It's a bit sad it is over. Will miss it. After the Show Keith had a lot of time for me and this was so great. He is a nice gentlemen. He speak with me and makes pic and gives autograph. Also I meet Stephen J Mullan. He was also a nice man.'
Kerstin Freye - Twitter @FreyeKerstin
If you saw Big Maggie & would like to submit a review to this page.
E-mail [email protected]
'I have seen it 3 times in Dublin and I must say it was the best Show ever. Keith and the other cast makes a very good job on stage and I laughed a lot. It was so funny. Best part was the kiss from Teddy Heelin and Maggie Polpin.'
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© Robert Day