Dancing at Lughnasa” is coming to Ashfield April 14 through April 22!
It’s a funny, bittersweet play by Irish playwright Brian Friel about five impoverished Irish women in 1936, their priest/somewhat demented older brother, a “love child” of 10 and the child’s unreliable but charming father. There are plenty of jokes. And, a bit of dancing and pathos.
“It’s so great to be doing theater again in the wonderful Ashfield Town Hall!” said Jackie Walsh, who plays Maggie in the play and founded Footlights at the Falls in 2015. “I absolutely can’t wait for the lights to come up on the stage, for the sisters’ banter to begin, and to see all the faces of the audience.”
The play has lots of surprises, tension and joy. In it, Father Jack has recently returned from Uganda, where he was missionary at a leper colony. He has grown to love the rituals of the people living there, even preferring them to his own Catholic rites. That leads to interesting reactions on the part of his sisters. The play tackles religious intolerance … and religious tolerance!
The shows happen at Ashfield Town Hall’s theater at 412 Main St at 7 p.m. Friday, April 14, 7 p.m. Saturday, April 15, 1 p.m. Sunday, April 16, 7 p.m. Friday, April 21, and 7 p.m. Saturday, April 22.
Tickets are $14, $10 for children 12 and under, and $10 for the matinee.
In an effort to diversify its audience. Footlights is also offering $5 tickets to EBT card holders, who can buy four tickets for $5 each. It’s part of the state’s Card to Culture program, which offers people with limited means tickets at a discount for plays, the New England Aquarium and historical/cultural sites. People are encouraged to urge anyone with an EBT card (which pays for groceries) to come to the show!
Reservations aren’t necessary, but anyone can reserve seats by emailing Jackie at ashfielddancingatlughnasa@gmail.com. Please bring cash to pay for them at the door. Cultural councils in the hilltowns have generously donated to this production. Town Hall is wheelchair-accessible.
The full cast is Paul Rothenberg as Michael, Sue Tracy as Kate, Jackie Walsh as Maggie, Nina Pollard as Agnes, Carol Delorenzo as Rosie, Heather Williams as Chrissie, Marc Kaufman as Jack and Jim Lobley as Gerry. Jean Koester directs. James Neeley is the sound/lights designer, Marcine Appel is the costumer, Kevin Tracy designed the set, Melanie Reneris is the choreographer, Walsh and Koester are producing, Katherine Taylor and Karen Schaeffer are doing props, and Jen West is managing the house, with help from Louise Krieger and ushers.