6 minute read
To Ireland, With Love
Theatre students share Irish community
Over 6,000 miles separate Troup County, Georgia, and County Donegal, Ireland, but for three days in February, no passport was needed for audience members who were transported by the campus production of “Dancing at Lughnasa” to Glenties, the real-life town that inspired the play from Irish playwright Brian Friel.
“After watching the show, a woman from Ireland told us it felt like you took me home with you,” says junior Will Gray, who portrayed the play’s narrator, Michael Evans. “Those are the kind of experiences that give us gratitude as artists.”
Loosely based on the experiences Friel had with his mother and four unmarried aunts, the drama serves as a memory play framed by the narrator’s childhood recollection of the summer of 1936 that changed the Mundy sisters’ lives forever.
At the core of the play is family, says Kim Barber Knoll, Program Chair of Theatre Arts and Director of the production.
“The sisters do their best to eke out a living with humor, hard work and determination,” she says.
Research in Ireland
Prior to the production, the LC Theatre group traveled to the Emerald Isle in January to not only perfect their Donegal accents, but also hear from the people who knew the five brave Glenties women depicted in the play.
Students who had never traveled out of the country and were experiencing a bit of culture shock were quickly put at ease by the locals and guides who welcomed them to their community of Glenties.
“It was incredible to have the opportunity to immerse ourselves in this culture and to get to meet the wonderful people in these communities,” says sophomore Isabella Rapoza, who played Agnes Mundy.
The seven-day program was hosted by the Bundoran-based Institute of Study Abroad Ireland, and the curriculum for theatre studies was designed and delivered by actor, director and producer Maura Logue. She, along with ISAI instructor Aidan Given and founder and director Niamh Hamill, worked with the students on history, cultural context, dialect and accent,
The LC group began their immersive experience at The Laurels, Friel’s family cottage, to get a sense of the play’s setting. In addition, they were treated to a piece by local Helen Power from Friel’s play “Faith Healer” at the new Lughnasa Creative Art Centre. They also went to St. Connell's Museum for a guided tour and had a moment of reflection at Friel's grave at the top of the glens.
“When we stood over his gravesite and looked out on the horizon, our guide Aiden asked us to close our eyes, take a deep breath and just take it all in for a moment,” says sophomore Aria Mabry, who played Maggie. “Suddenly, a gust of wind came and went as we stood there. It was a spiritual and moving moment that will always be with me.”
On the last day in Donegal, the cast, dressed by Logue’s production company Dark Daughter and photographed by Given, posed for a publicity shoot on the Fairy Bridges in Bundoran.
“When we were getting ready to take our photos, a double rainbow appeared over the sea as if on cue,” Mabry says. “It could not have been more perfect. Everything just fell into place.”
The trip was funded through the Louis and Mary Kay Smith Travel Grant at LaGrange College.
“We are so grateful to the Smiths for their generosity and providing opportunities for our students to travel abroad and experience other cultures,” Knoll says.
Reception from media
Their trip to Ireland garnered attention in Irish newspapers and radio and television programs that include The Irish Times, Donegal Live, Donegal News, The Ray D’Arcy Show in Dublin and BBC Belfast.
Speaking in the Donegal dialect, described by some as one of the most beautiful accents in the country, would not have been possible without engaging with the locals and receiving hands-on instruction from Logue.
“When it comes to learning languages, I am an auditory learner,” Mabry says. “In our classes, Maura would have us read a line and then she would say a line back to us and that was the most beneficial for me.”
During her interviews with two Irish radio outlets, Mabry was tested on her ability to say a line or two as her character Maggie, who was also played by Meryl Streep in the 1998 movie.
The hosts said her accent was so well done it was as if she lived in Donegal her whole life.
News of the production also spread to America, where it was featured on WSB-TV in Atlanta, Georgia.
“We were grateful for the opportunity to share our story,” Knoll says.
One-of-a-kind experience
For senior Annabell Sapp, who played Rose, the trip and production helped provide her with a new perspective that will guide her as she strives to pursue a career in the acting industry.
“This opportunity gave me the chance to expand my skillset that will in turn help me grow as an actor,” Sapp says.
For junior Jackie Morman, who played Gerry Evans, he was glad to have had the unique challenge of being the only Welsh character in the production.
“This opportunity showed me that I am capable of more than I realize,” Morman says.
Senior Hayleigh Sebaugh, who played Chris, the narrator’s mother, says she has gained more confidence that she will take into the classroom as she pursues a career in teaching.
“This was a priceless experience that I will forever hold onto in my heart,” she says.
An unbreakable bond
From the first rehearsal to the final curtain call, the cast, both familiar and new to the Price Theater stage, developed deep relationships that will forever be linked to LaGrange College.
Senior Carlie Jones, who played oldest sister Kate, took her final bow as an actor at LC, and says she will never forget the sisters she gained in LaGrange.
“I was taken in with open arms as a freshman and have since given support to the students coming up,” she says. “The experience with this group is something I will not take for granted.”
Mark Huffman, who is First Gentleman and husband to President Susanna Baxter, played Father Jack, a priest who returned to Ballybeg after 25 years abroad.
He says he was honored to make his LC Theatre debut in such a welcoming environment.
“I experienced firsthand the amount of work and dedication our Theatre students and faculty put into their productions,” Huffman says. “Working alongside this group is something I will never forget.”
