THE SHAUGHRAUN
by Dion Boucicault
Druid
Town Hall Theatre, Galway
July 17
(4/5 stars )
When you read Martin McDonagh’s plays for the first time, you would be forgiven for thinking that his use of Hiberno-English was revolutionary. But then, when you discover Synge’s The Playboy of the Western World, you sort of say to yourself: ‘Ah, so that’s where it came from.’
Likewise, while watching Druid’s production of Dion Boucicault’s The Shaughraun, there was a moment where I thought to myself: ‘Ah, so that’s where Synge got it from.’
This is not to imply plagiarism, more so to point out that Boucicault’s use of language undoubtedly influenced Irish playwrights who came after him. As actor Rory Nolan puts it, ‘To my ear, he echoes down through Irish theatre. He echoes down through the ages.’
The Shaughraun follows Conn, an endlessly amusing, wandering trickster, who saves his friend Robert from banishment to Australia. Together, they return to Ireland to reunite Robert with his love, and undo Kinchela, the ruthless land agent who plotted to send Robert to a penal colony and steal his property.
This is a true return to form for Aaron Monaghan, whose last two productions in Galway – Endgame and The Cave – were not really for me, although they were well received by many. His command of the stage, and sheer level of control, is always a privilege to observe.
This performance sees him getting a full-body workout in the process, taking on dual roles as ‘protagonist’ and ‘furniture mover’. Herein lies the brilliance of Garry Hynes‘ direction: the transitions between scenes; playing between the lines. For instance, I am willing to hazard a guess that Conn having to hand over his gun to one of Kinchela’s henchman so that he can move a table was not in the script – a moment of pure comedy genius.
Peter Daly is an absolute scene-stealer as Father Dolan. The segment in which he is physically incapable of lying to Captain Molineux packs one of the weightiest emotional punches of the evening. Likewise, Megan Cusack is simply superb as Claire, bringing so much strength, but also a subtle tenderness, to the role.
It was a game of two halves: the first failed to deliver many true laughs, whereas the actors literally could not miss in the second. In many ways, it is closer to a vaudeville than a play, serving up heightened melodrama that makes for seriously wholesome entertainment, with Conor Linehan‘s piano the icing on the cake.
Since seeing Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings films over 20 years ago, I never thought that I would encounter a better best friend figure than Samwise Gamgee. Yet, I think Aaron Monaghan’s Conn now takes that mantle. Loyal, lovable, and willing to risk life and limb for those he holds dear, we could all do with a friend like The Shaughraun.
4/5 stars
