In early February 2000, my first three-act comedy, ‘The Maiden Aunt’ had its premiere in Killala, Co. Mayo. Thirteen years later, it’s going stronger than ever. It’s fast becoming my most popular play. I can’t believe it.
If all productions of the play, which are in rehearsal, make it to the stage, there’ll be eleven between Christmas and April this year (twelve since the current drama season began).
I never thought when I was struggling with it back in 1999 – and writing it by hand for the third or fourth time – that it would become this popular.
I remember sitting beside a woman when the play was first staged in Killala and she commented something along the lines that it was so natural, it was like looking into someone’s house. God forbid that anyone’s house would be as chaotic as Dan an Mary Murphy’s. But I think audiences like to see characters they can identify with – someone they could see every day in their own area.
And that’s what I try to do in all my plays – keep one foot in reality and let the other foot wander about a bit.
So, in the next few weeks, Gertie O’Grady’s off to Derry, Donegal, Sligo, Mayo, Cork (twice), Tipperary, Offaly and Roscommon. Hope she has her buss pass handy..
-
Recent Posts
Recent Comments
Archives
- October 2024
- July 2024
- April 2024
- March 2024
- September 2023
- August 2023
- November 2022
- October 2022
- August 2022
- July 2022
- June 2022
- May 2022
- April 2022
- February 2022
- October 2021
- March 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- November 2019
- June 2019
- May 2019
- March 2019
- February 2019
- November 2018
- October 2018
- August 2018
- April 2018
- February 2018
- January 2018
- November 2017
- October 2017
- June 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- October 2016
- May 2016
- January 2016
- November 2015
- August 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- December 2014
- November 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- July 2014
- May 2014
- March 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- October 2013
- September 2013
- June 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- November 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
Categories