Eclipsed (Mephisto Theatre Company)

Thu, Aug 29, 2013

It has been 21 years since its premiere but Patricia Burke Brogan’s Eclipsed has lost none of its power, as the fine new production from Mephisto Theatre Company, currently running at the Town Hall, amply demonstrates. It is also fitting that the play should be getting a major new production in the same year that the Magdalenes have finally got official State recognition via the McAleese Report and the Government decision to grant them compensation. In ways the play’s journey has paralleled that of the Magdalenes; Eclipsed was one of the very first works to alert the world to their story and its periodic revivals in the intervening years, both here and abroad, helped keep that story in the public eye.

Mephisto’s production is confidently directed by Niall Cleary and in Triona Lillis’s design of the laundry space it is telling that the only splash of bold colour is from the episcopal purple of the recently cleaned bishop’s robes, hung over a mannequin and serving as a mute yet vivid symbol of the Church’s male power structure and its condemnation of the Magdalenes. The first act illustrates the drudgery of the penitents’ daily routine but also highlights their camaraderie. There is plenty of humour and high spirits, such as when they dress up a mannequin as Elvis for a mock wedding with the star-struck Mandy (Siobhan Donnellan). The second act of the play is much darker as it moves toward a tragic climax and witnesses desperate attempts to escape, and equally desperate lashing out against the nuns who are their de-facto captors. Yet the play also points out how the nuns are also captives in their own way. If Mother Victoria (a nuanced performance from Caroline Donnellan) is the stern overseer of the laundry, she does what she does out of unquestioning loyalty to Church authority rather than innate sadism, she practises the blind obedience she frequently teaches. Notably, it is she who speaks the line “we are eclipsed” which gives the play its title. The younger Sister Virginia (Catherine Denning) speaks up for the Magdalenes and tries to help them but as the penitent Bridget bitterly points out to her her efforts are little more than tokenism and make no real difference to the women’s lot. Bridget (wonderfully played by Emma O’Grady) reminds us of Ken Kesey’s McMurphy from One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, she is spirited, indomitable and not afraid to take on the nuns. Yet we also see that she is not merely an ‘angry young woman’ and that much of her motivation comes from the burning love she feels for her lost baby and her desire to be re-united with her child.

Lick My Stereo @ Halo

Thu, Aug 29, 2013

An exciting, lively, and energetic four piece band all the way from Roscommon, Galway regulars Lick My Stereo land on the Halo stage again tomorrow night.

Piercing music at Monroe’s Live

Thu, Aug 29, 2013

Foot-stomping Australian folksters The Pierce Brothers come to Monroe’s Live this Saturday.

Rab Fulton on The Ballad of Reading Gaol

Thu, Aug 29, 2013

This year marks the birth of a new festival on Galway’s already bustling calendar; the Oscar Wilde Festival. The two day event is both a celebration of the famed writer’s life and works as well as a reminder of Wilde’s strong links to this city and the west of Ireland.

The country goes mad for A Bit On The Side

Thu, Aug 29, 2013

Top Irish stand-up comedian Conal Gallen brings his first ever comedy play, A Bit On The Side, to theatres across Ireland.

Conal and his son Rory began writing the comedy play three years ago and finally finished it in April of this year. The play was launched on August 7 to a sold out audience at the Balor Theatre, Ballybofey, finishing to a standing ovation.

Pearl Jam tribute for Monroe’s Live

Thu, Aug 29, 2013

On Friday, the top all-Irish tribute to possibly the greatest grunge band of all time, Pearl Jam, comes to Monroe’s Live in Galway.

Tradiohead @ Kelly’s

Thu, Aug 29, 2013

Tradiohead play Kelly's this Friday night. Tradiohead take the songs of Radiohead and re-imagine them using instruments more often associated with Irish traditional music.

Pat Shortt’s I Am The Band begins Irish and UK tour

Thu, Aug 29, 2013

Fresh from his recent success starring alongside Daniel Radcliffe as Jonnypateenmike in Martin McDonagh’s The Cripple of Inishmaan, Pat wowed audiences in London’s West End and was critically acclaimed.

The Staves @ Róisín Dubh

Thu, Aug 29, 2013

The rise of sibling trio The Staves over the past 18 months has been nothing short of meteoric. The band arrive at the Róisín Dubh on September 9 from 8pm.

The British folk rock band of sisters from Watford have come a long way since the early days of open mic nights around their local scene.

Castero @ The Cellar

Thu, Aug 29, 2013

Hexen Haus Promotions and Desert Rock Ireland are bringing the ‘Fuzzed Out Sessions’ night back to The Cellar Bar downstairs tomorrow night, with the almighty heavy rockers Castero presenting songs from their new album Revolutions.

Lisanne Jacob to launch her debut album

Thu, Aug 29, 2013

Lisanne Jacob will be releasing her debut album 'Wanderlust' upstairs in Kelly's tonight.

Disoconauts @ Róisín Dubh

Thu, Aug 29, 2013

The Disconauts return to the Róisín Dubh tomorrow night for round two of their monthly late night “dex and percussion” party.

Oliver Callan @ Róisín Dubh

Thu, Aug 29, 2013

Comedy satirist and mimic Oliver Callan is coming to Róisín Dubh this Saturday at 8pm.

Death Drive exhibition at the Galway Arts Centre

Thu, Aug 29, 2013

Death Drive is a group exhibition by four artists; Vanessa Donoso Lopez, Stine Marie Jacobsen, Maximilian Le Cain, and Siobhán McGibbon.

The exhibition, curated by Maeve Mulrennan, takes place at the Galway Arts Centre from September 7 to October 5 with an opening reception on Friday September 6 at 6pm.

RSAG @ Róisín Dubh

Thu, Aug 29, 2013

RSAG. (aka Rarely Seen Above Ground, aka Jeremy Hickey) is an Irish multi-instrumentalist hailing from the Kilkenny who has been making waves since 2008. Although rarely seen, Hickey will play the Róisín Dubh on September 12 at 9pm.

Galway to host its first festival dedicated to Oscar Wilde

Thu, Aug 22, 2013

Galway will for the first time host a festival dedicated to Oscar Wilde. The festival, taking place in September, will celebrate the life and work of the writer and highlight his strong links with the west of Ireland.

The Last Chieftain-telling the story of O’Sullivan Beara

Thu, Aug 22, 2013

One of the most remarkable figures from Irish history is brought compellingly to life in a one-man show by Aidan Dooley which is coming shortly to the Town Hall. The Last Chieftain - O’Sullivan Beara conjures up the epic struggles of one of Ireland’s most celebrated leaders.

New book asks What Would Kate Do

Thu, Aug 22, 2013

Kate Middleton is something of an icon of style and role model for certain women, and fans of the British duchess will enjoy a new novel entitled What Would Kate Do.

Enjoying the crash with Julian Gough

Thu, Aug 22, 2013

In The Great Goat Bubble, Julian Gough showed he had a rare flair for creating great comedy out of the mad, mad, world of international finance and he repeats the trick in his new book, Crash, How I Lost a Hundred Billion and Found True Love.

The Third Policeman for the Town Hall

Thu, Aug 22, 2013

The Third Policeman, the celebrated novel written by Irish writer Brian O’Nolan, is to be turned into a stage adaptation for the Town Hall Theatre.

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