SIXTH FORM TRIP TO SEE ‘THE PLAYBOY OF THE WESTERN WORLD’ BY J.M. SYNGE

"A daring fellow is the jewel of the world...."

Late last term saw 15 Sixth Form Literature students, accompanied by Mrs Lydon, Mr Aldridge and Miss Brennen,  brace trains and tubes to travel down to The Old Vic theatre in London, where an outstanding performance of ‘Playboy of the Western World’ awaited them. After a morning spent negotiating hectic railways and underground stations, we arrived at a festive market at Southbank, where we bought second hand books and marvelled at the ostrich burgers! After a short walk to the famous Old Vic, we took our seats for the play. For many of us, it was our first experience of Irish drama, and it did not disappoint. Once accustomed to the thick Irish accent, we could only gaze onward at this striking reflection on Irish peasant life, and the strength and traditions of their communities.

Directed by John Crowley, J.M. Synge’s poignant literary triumph depicts the tale of Christie Mahon (Robert Sheehan), a young outcast wandering the roads of Western Ireland, claiming to have killed his father. He stumbles upon the tavern ran by Pageen Mike (Ruth Negga) and her father, and the story goes from there.

Christie’s haunting tale engages the imagination of the peasantry and, drawn along by his elaborate story, they begin to treat him as a hero. Perhaps it is his newfound sense of pride or his daring bravery but something soon has the local women eating out of his hand. Yet Christie only has eyes for one; Pageen Mike’s wily wit and steely determination were brilliantly encapsulated by Negga’s performance and she brought to the role a self-possession yet unseen in the character of Pageen, leaving no doubt as to why Christie falls in love with her.

However, not everything is as it seems. Brought to life by Sheehan’s spectacularly gangling performance, the character of Christie seems a most unlikely murderer, and when his father turns up, a bloody bandage wrapped about his forehead, the play takes a startling new direction. Twists and turns pepper every act; you can’t help but keep your eyes trained on the action.

Perhaps the best performance of the night however, was that of Niamh Cusack, who played the cunning competition that vies for Christie’s affections, in the form of Widow Quin. The star performer, closely followed by Sheehan and Negga, she brought to the stage a strength of character that embodied the role perfectly. Yet, no matter the skill of the actors, the play would not have been the spectacular affair it was without the superb directorial talents of John Crowley, who brought the entire performance together. With each act preceded by an old Irish folk song, and even a rotating stage (is it just me or does that last part sound familiar?) his visionary talents could not fail to captivate the audience, leaving us all with bated breath. The performance was a raging success, abounding in comedy and tragedy, and an air of brilliance that couldn’t help but capture our hearts.

Written By:

Chris Robson (L6NS)

Natalie Metcalf (L6NH)

Joshua Smith (L6JS)