Theatre Review by Christina Manolescu</MARQUEE>
Having survived a number of broken hearts and been sacked from a catastrophic series of ‘drudge’ jobs, Carmel is doing her best as fleeting co-host of Ballymalarkey Castle in fictional Bailefailte, entertaining hordes of tourists who come especially in search of the sentimental dream-legend of a bygone Ireland.
With the help of intermittent video projections, the performance is a rapid-fire barrage of personal life story, Irish culture and history, legend, impersonation, exaggeration, comic invention, song and dance. It's a tongue in cheek, self-deprecating portrayal of Carmel, self-styled Derry Queen and secret love-child of J.F.K, persona non grata wherever she happens to touch down on the fictional Green isle.
When you go, expect audience interactivity: answer a few oddball quizzes—and perhaps win prizes—in the midst of the old fashioned malarkey.
Carmel O’Reilly, playing at Theatre Ste-Catherine till Sunday, March 9, 2008
The year is 1998, the place is Ireland. Outside, the Celtic Tiger is roaring to beat the band. Inside the concert lounge of Ballymalarkey Castle, cabaret star Carmel O'Reilly and her accompanist/brother, Michael, are getting ready for another busload of North American tourists eager for a relaxing evening of ballads, banter and blarney. But tonight's performance may not be quite the song and dance anyone on this coach tour had in mind.
Montreal playwright, novelist and actor Colleen Curran takes us to an Ireland of yore and lore, where O'Reilly's Hollywood vision of brassy redheads, Bing Crosby and The Quiet Man collides with real life and a contemporary Eire of U2, The Commitments and Dublin sprawl.
Curran describes the inspiration behind her newest work, “The song and dance that Carmel puts on is very much what tourists used to think Ireland was. This is not the case any more; especially in light of the economic boom so grand that Ireland's new nickname became the Celtic Tiger.” She continues, “While Ireland has moved on, Carmel O'Reilly has not. If there's any hope of the two Ireland's meeting, it's via Carmel O'Reilly.”
Corey Castle directs Colleen Curran and Glenn Roy (with a cameo appearance by Janis Kirshner) in this funny and endearing play that will have the audience up on their feet, singing along and winning prizes to boot! Castle appreciates the universality of the piece; “There's something about seeing the little guy/gal succeed against all odds that is timeless.” Set design by Bertrand Simard. Costumes by Debbie McGlynn.
If Irish eyes are smiling, it’s because of Carmel O’Reilly!
Ireland’s Own Carmel O’Reilly Tonite!
By Colleen CurranTuesday, March 4-Sunday, March 9, 2008
Theatre Ste. Catherine
264 Ste-Catherine St. East (Metro Berri-UQAM)
Seven shows only!
Tuesday to Saturday 8:00 p.m.
Matinées: Saturday & Sunday 2:00 p.m.
$20 Regular / $17 Students, seniors, artists
514-284-3939 or reservations at theatrestecatherine.com
Colleen Curran is a Montreal playwright, actor, novelist and teacher. Her comedy, CAKE-WALK, first produced at the Blyth Festival in 1984, has been widely produced across Canada and the US. It was ‘discovered’ by Whoopi Goldberg and brought to the attention of Showtime Network. Colleen won an International Gabriel Award for her play SACRED HEARTS; produced last year at Zeitgeist Stage in Boston. Other plays include EL CLAVADISTA, CEILI HOUSE, CASA DE MARY MARGARET, ANOTHER LABOUR DAY and LOCAL TALENT. SOMETHING DRASTIC, based on her first novel about Montreal singing waitress Lenore Rutland, premiered in Winnipeg at Prairie Theatre Exchange and was later produced at Tarragon Extra Space in Toronto and in Melbourne, Australia where it was called "a gem of the Fringe." As Co-Artistic Director (with Corey Castle and Penny Mancuso) of Triumvirate Theatre Company, Colleen had roles in their successful productions of THE HOUSE OF BLUE LEAVES, CAKE-WALK and MARVIN'S ROOM. Her association with director Corey Castle goes back to the early 80's, with this being their tenth show together.
Corey Castle has directed numerous productions in and around Montreal, including Cabaret (Theatre Lac Brome and Centaur Theatre), Into The Woods (Concordia University), Blokes, Blokes II, Troubadours Through Time, Mainly Montreal (Centaur Theatre, starring Bowser and Blue), Cake-Walk, Marvin's Room (Triumvirate Productions), as well as many musicals with Lyric Theatre and Gilbert & Sullivan operettas with the Montreal West Operatic Society. His hit Theatre for Young Audiences shows, From You To Us To You I, II and III, toured extensively throughout Quebec and southwestern Ontario. He is a graduate of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy.
This is an Equity approved co-op.