The Shaughraun

Synopsis

A melodramatic play, The Shaughraun, is a combination of a rollicking farce, a fish-out-of-water comedy and a gentle morality play. The dastardly Corey Kinchela, the forces of the crown and a liberal dose of nineteenth century Fenian politics contrive to keep the various lovers apart. But in the end love will triumph with more than a little help from Conn the Shaughraun and his faithful dog Tatters.

Our Review:

9 June 2005

Irish melodrama meets Riverdance: there was never any danger that this was going to be a bland evening, but the bejasus shenanigins (it’s catching) going on at the Albery unnecessarily gilds the shamrock. John McColgan, more used to controlling flashing Irish feet, has directed his cast to go all out for excess. And they don’t hold back.

Dion Boucicault’s 1874 comedy celebrates the daring of Conn the cunning shaughraun (translated as vagabond) in a rollercoaster plot involving a wronged heir, a grasping landlord and two well-bred colleens just waiting to be suitably married off. The villain of the piece is wicked Corry Kinchela (a moustachioed Stephen Brennan), bent on dispatching the noble Robert Ffolliott (Stephen Darcy), whom he has had wrongly imprisoned, and carrying off his bride-to-be.

Conn, likably played by an energetic Don Wycherley, is feckless but loyal and good-hearted, apparently sacrificing himself to save his young master’s life. Into this ...

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Latest User Review

212.85.1.201) - 13 June 2005:

A good fun evening in theatre - a real feel good evening - something that anyone from eight to eighty should enjoy and leave the theatre smiling. It is not Shakespeare it is rip-roaring yarn played to the hilt by an excellent cast. If you normally take children to see musicals this may be an excellent alternative for a holiday treat....

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