Spleodar agus fuinneamh ar staitse na Taibhdheirce le Saoirse
Tá ré nua ar staitse na Taibhdheirce agus is rud iontach é.
It’s in the form of Saoirse, a musical by Dublin-based theatre maker, Shauna Carrick for Galway International Arts Festival – and everyone of any age, who ever attended a Coláiste Samhraidh in the Gaeltacht could relate to it.
Set in the West Kerry Gaeltacht, this pithy, funny and incisive musical, directed by An Taibhdhearc's artistic director Muireann Kelly, captures the joy and stresses of a formative three weeks in Irish college.
There isn't a dull moment from a superb cast who in addition to being fine actors, are multi-instrumentalists and also pretty nimble dancers.
It's Saoirse's (Ciara Cox's) first time in Irish college, attending along with her friend, Róisín (Evanne Kilgannon), a returnee and a “D4 ceart”, as uber-cool Caoimhín (Elliot Nolan) describes her. Sharing a room with them is Aoife (Síofra Ní Éilí), a geeky teen from Dublin's Northside – instantly Róisín finds reason to look down on her while Séamus (Callum Maxwell) teases her incessantly.
Grá, éad, and all the teenage emotions are explored here and Shauna Carrick perfectly captures the little cruelties of teenage girls – an episode with a hair straightener is particularly strong. Róisín's answer to many things is ‘cad-ever’ and it's one of the brilliant ways in which language is re-imagined in this show.
There's a singing sequence where the very enthusiastic Múinteoir Tara (Juliette Crosbie) is teaching the students – of varying abilities – about Na Forainmneacha Réamhfhoclacha. It's so effective it should be put on the school curriculum. Agam, agat, aige, aici never sounded so good!
Outside the classroom, there are games, céilí dancing and sports, while mobile phones and social media present too, so there's lots of scope for excitement and misunderstandings.
If the kids are having lots of drama – ‘cad-ever’ – there’s more existential stuff going on locally. The college is falling down, with leaks in the ceiling and urgently needs an upgrade but the money isn't there. If the problems aren’t addressed urgently, this could be its last year, with huge implications locally, including for bean an tí, Nuala (Lesley Conroy) and her daughter Siobhán (Ursula Earley) – a cinnire. The students have helped keep them afloat and pay for Siobhán's university education.
But as Liam, the postman and shop-owner – a man who exudes misanthropy as played by Colm Mac Gearailt – points out many times, ‘the government doesn’t care’. If the people in this Gaeltacht need help, they'll have to look to themselves.
Led by Múinteoir Tara, a campaign is started and they waver between determination and despair as they pledge 'an fód a sheasamh'.
There's a wonderful dénouement, involving social media and onscreen appearances from several well-known Gaelgeoirí in a musical that shows how tradtitional and modern can benefit each other.
The two core strands in Saoirse are interwoven skilfully and West Kerry is always to the fore in the show, with Páidí Ó Sé’s pub making an appearance, while the music of Séamus Begley and Steve Cooney can be heard during the breaks.
The show's own music, co-composed by Carrick and Aidan Byrne, is outstanding, spanning a host of genres, and the dancing, choreographed by Meadhbh Lyons, is superb.
It's a busy stage, but the set and lighting suppor the action and the a largescale 'mobile phone' on the back wall, onto which words and images are projected is very clever.
This is a feel-good show that will evoke nostalgia for some and promises a bright future for the language and An Taibhdhearc, featuring so many talented new faces on stage. Hats off to Muireann Kelly for commissioning it.