10 Dates with Mad Mary

Synopsis

Mary McArdle is the toughest fighter in town, a title that earned her the moniker 'Mad' Mary when she was 15. Now she’s 25, and just out of prison. Back home, everything has changed: all the old gang have grown up, and the only thing Mary has to look forward to is being bridesmaid at her best friend’s wedding. But even this comes at a price - she has to find a date for the big day, and finding a date in a town where everyone knows your name is not gonna be easy.

Our Review:

12 August 2010

Mad Mary has just returned to small town Drogheda having served a prison sentence for assault. Recognised wherever she goes as ‘Mad Mary’ she does not have high hopes for finding a nice young man to accompany her to her best friend’s wedding and so it is she embarks on ’10 dates’ in the hope that she might save face and rebuild some self-esteem.

This is a story of boredom and prejudice in a small town, of self-preservation and a search for love, and ultimately of individual courage to break free from the stereotype assumed for her by the community. This is Yasmine Akram’s first full length play and she bills it as a ‘romantic comedy (sort of)’ which it ‘sort of‘ is.  Caoilfhionn Dunne delivers a convincing solo performance as Mary, despite being so attractive and, in some ways, such a likeable a character.

- Margaret Scott

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