Timeless Themes
Mid-1930s Ireland brought to life by student cast and crew
By Caroline Clayton
Skiff Staff

The theater department is bringing the Irish countryside to Fort Worth with its production of “Dancing at Lughnasa.” Written by Irish playwright Brian Friel, the play opens today as an entirely student-run production.

The play is about five unmarried sisters, the Mundys, and their lives in a small town in 1936 Ireland. The predominantly female cast takes the audience on a journey of the sisters’ hardships, triumphs and battles with society’s moral standards.

The story is told from the point of view of an 8-year-old boy named Michael, played by senior theatre performance major Matt Moore. His mother is the youngest of the five sisters and he reflects upon the women who raised him.

Although the setting is a far cry from campus, cast members say students can relate to the story.

“The play deals with the five sisters trying to etch out a living whatever way possible,” said Matt Rubenstein, a freshman radio-TV-film major who plays Gary, Michael’s estranged father. “This is something that college students with rent and electricity bills to pay can certainly relate to.”

Much of the story line is also applicable to modern society. The sisters face economic troubles and societal judgments after Michael is born out of wedlock, and endure separation from the Church and unrequited love.

The play itself has a rich history. It won three Tony Awards in 1992, including “best play” and has been adapted as a major motion picture starring Glenn Close.

TCU actors say they are realistic about bringing huge productions to the college level.

“None of us are Broadway actors,” Rubenstein said. “Still, we always strive to make each show as special as possible, and this is no different.”

In addition to the eight-person student cast, the production and design teams are also all students. Eleanor Burkett, a junior performance and lighting design major, is the lighting designer for the show.

When comparing acting to design, Burkett said, “Working on the main stage and with faculty brings a different atmosphere to the show.” She was a cast member in the previous student-run production “Two Feet Away and Shouting.”

TCU’s theatre program has a long history of adapting large productions to the smaller stage. Its productions of “Jesus Christ Superstar” and “My Fair Lady” (both huge Broadway hits) fared well with the TCU community.

The play is also TCU Theatre faculty member Lee Ritchey’s directorial debut for the theatre department.

“I have a very talented cast and am very excited to be working with them,” Ritchey said. “They all bring different elements to the show and that makes it even more exciting.”

“Dancing at Lughnasa” is the second student-planned production this year.

Caroline Clayton