San Juan Community Theater Event

Dancing at Lughnasa

November 2001

1992 was a big year for Irish playwright Brian Friel. His Dancing at Lughnasa was nominated for eight Tony Awards and won three, including Best Play. Thanks to the San Juan Community Theatre, this lively Irish tale set on a rugged farm in 1936 county Donegal comes to Friday Harbor for two weekends, Nov. 2 through Nov. 10.

In Irish mythology, there is an ancient harvest deity called Lugh, symbolized through the centuries by a blazing bonfire designed to dispel the ever-present mist and rain. This pagan, temporal concept co-exists with the more modern dictates of Catholicism, creating a kind of stubbornness within the people, but more often a selflessness and resilient grace.

This grace translates into a uniquely Irish capacity for hope, and that is the essential theme of Dancing at Lughnasa.

As war clouds threaten again in Europe, the five unmarried Mundy sisters struggle to keep their world together, spurred by the imminent arrival of their brother Jack (Bill Lembeck), a priest returning from 25 years trying to convert the heathen in Africa. Coping as best they can in their modest cottage are Kate (Susan Shirmer), the imperious teacher, Agnes (Lorie Narum) a serene family anchor, Maggie (Susan Williams) the big-hearted keeper of the home, and Rose (Sandy Woodruff) the simple-minded eccentric.

Finally, there is Christina (Julie Greene), the lonely romantic who has damaged the family's reputation with a love child, eight-year-old Michael (Dorian Oliver), who has become the center of their world. Complicating their brother's return is Michael's father (Doug Schirmer) who tries to re-establish a relationship with Christina on his way to join the loyalists in Spain. And though their newly acquired Marconi radio brings news of turmoil in other lands, it also fills their home with music and dancing.

Dancing at Lughnasa is told from Michael's memories, back to the end of that summer on the eve of the harvest celebration. But the play's real celebration lives within the sisters, a family marked by the unfailing courage and love they have for each other.

It took more than just learning lines to bring this play to the stage. To prepare for their roles, director Susan Williams arranged for the actors to study Irish dialects from voice coach Sheila Lauder and learn traditional step dancing from Barbara and Bob Dann.

"The ladies are all good dancers," Barbara Dann said. "They just needed to learn the specific steps required by the play. Their enthusiasm was wonderful."