By Sandi Masori
SAN DIEGO — Backyard Renaissance Theater Company often picks plays that make you think or question your perceptions. Its printed program describes this as “art to the gut.” The current production, The Beauty Queen of Leenane by playwright Martin McDonagh, is a good example of that.
It’s about a toxic relationship between an aging mother and her 40-year-old caregiver daughter. It’s set out in the Irish countryside in the mid- 90s. The first act has you wondering where it’s going, and the second act brings the gut punches.
While there are many comedic moments that break up the drama, the theme of the play itself is heavy. The acting, directing, and sets were all extremely well done.
As someone who prefers my entertainment to be an escape from reality and to leave me feeling good about the world, I didn’t like the play itself. For my personal viewing pleasure, I want something light-hearted with a high laugh per minute rate, a love story, a happy ending and an epilogue.
I want to clearly know who the good guys and the bad guys are. And I want good to emphatically win. However, there are those who believe that art should make you think and feel and question, and this play is perfect for them.
Having said all that, director Gercke does a great job with keeping you on the emotional roller coaster and on a psychological journey where you are going back and forth feeling sorry for the mom and feeling sorry for the daughter. The play was tight and well directed.
Equity actor Deborah Gilmour Smyth is superb as the elder Mag Folan. Her wonderfully expressive face really keeps the audience engaged and involved. Her Irish accent seems authentic and natural. And even when the lights are out, she moves and breathes in character. An inspiring performance.
Jessica John as the daughter Maureen also does a good job. Her Irish accent at times is a little more difficult to understand, but once you get into the rhythm it flows nicely. Her performance takes you through a range of emotions.
Rounding out the cast is Nick Daugherty and MJ Sieber as brothers Ray and Pato Dooley respectively. They too deliver compelling performances, and provide much of the comic relief.
The fixed set is the interior of the Folan house. Set designer Tony Cucuzzella built it with a lot of attention to detail and sharp angles that make it feel as if the walls are closing in on you. There are also some neat effects with the fireplace and the way the light flares when things are thrown into it. History buffs will appreciate that one of the framed photographs on the wall is of U.S. President John F. Kennedy, who was of Irish descent.
Everything about the play succeeds in its goal of making sure that even though you’ve left the theater you haven’t left the show, it stays with you. Playwright McDonagh has won many awards for his work, and The Beauty Queen of Leenane itself won four Tony awards for the 1998 Broadway production.
The show plays through July 13.
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Sandi Masori is a theater and restaurant reviewer for San Diego Jewish World.