The next play to be staged at The Apollo will be ‘The Loves
of Cass McGuire’ by the renowned Irish playwright Brian Friel.
Set in 1960’s Ireland, the play follows the fortunes of Cass
as she returns to her homeland after half a century in New York on Skid Row,
shacked up with the owner of the greasy spoon she worked in. Her younger
brother Harry has made a life for himself and his wife Alice and has a prosperous
business and four children, only one of whom, Dom, still lives at home, as does
Cass and Harry’s elderly – and very deaf – mother.
Alice and Harry prepare to welcome Cass home but, expecting a
staid, respectable American spinster aunt, they are horrified to witness the
whisky-drinking, smoking, swearing, garrulous Cass going on the rampage through
their home town. Embarrassed by her, they shelve plans for a welcome home party
for all the neighbours and instead dump her in Eden House, a retirement home.
There, Cass encounters Trilbe Costello, Mr Ingram and Pat
Quinn, all of whom have also experienced disappointment and rejection in their
lives, and have found ways of dealing with their hurt. Initially scornful of
the ‘gooks’ in ‘the workhouse’, Cass find her own determination gradually
eroding until, beaten into submission, she is driven to find her own way out of
her despair.
As with many of Friel’s plays, ‘Cass McGuire’ is a true
tragicomedy – there are moments of great humour underpinned by
thought-provoking and emotional truths.
‘The Loves of Cass McGuire’ is at The Apollo from 24 March
to 1 April (not Sunday or Monday). Tickets are available now via our website.
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