Outside Mullingar

Last updated
Outside Mullingar
Written by John Patrick Shanley
CharactersAnthony Reilly, Tony Reilly, Rosemary Muldoon, Aoife Muldoon
Date premieredJanuary 23, 2014
Place premiered Samuel J. Friedman Theatre
SettingIrish countryside
Official site

Outside Mullingar is a play by John Patrick Shanley, which ran on Broadway in 2014.

Contents

Production

Outside Mullingar premiered on Broadway at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre in a Manhattan Theatre Club production on January 3, 2014 (previews), officially on January 23, 2014. [1] Directed by Doug Hughes, the cast stars Brían F. O'Byrne, Debra Messing, Dearbhla Molloy and Peter Maloney. [2]

The play ended its limited engagement on March 16, 2014. [2]

Outside Mullingar marked the Broadway debut of Debra Messing. [3]

The play was commissioned by the Manhattan Theatre Club through the U.S. Trust New American Play Commissioning Program, and received the Edgerton Foundation New American Plays Award. [4]

Background

Shanley wrote about how he came to write the play, noting that he had his 60th birthday, and decided to write about the family farm. He also said that he wanted to write about love. "I found a strange relief in the play." [5]

Overview

The play is set in the Midlands of Ireland, and involves two farmers, Anthony and Rosemary, who live next to each other. Rosemary has been romantically interested in Anthony her entire life. Anthony, who is shy and unaware of Rosemary's feelings, dislikes farming, so his father intends to leave the farm to a nephew.

Critical response

Charles Isherwood for The New York Times wrote: "Outside Mullingar...represents Mr. Shanley’s finest work since Doubt...Mr. Shanley’s lyrical writing, and the flawless production, directed by Doug Hughes... give such consistent pleasure that even though we know the equations that define romcoms will add up to the familiar sums, we are happy to watch as they do." [6]

The reviewer for USA Today wrote: "Had Shanley made Anthony and Rosemary, say, career-obsessed urbanites still living with their folks in the same apartment building, the story would seem ridiculously contrived. But by placing them in a rural setting where dating options are considerably more limited — not just by a less-dense population, but by cultural and religious mores...he makes their plight more credible and, despite some hokum, intriguing...if Shanley is raising less-complicated questions this time, there are flecks of wisdom in his sweetly diverting study." [7]

The play was less well reviewed by Irish publications, with Fintan O'Toole of The Irish Times describing it as "mystifyingly awful" and "beyond the edge of awfulness." [8] Similarly, it was described as an "overwrought comic romance" which "contains uncontrolled blarney, overwrought symbolism and emotional bogginess" by Lyn Gardner at The Guardian in the United Kingdom. [9]

Awards and nominations

Outside Mullingar was nominated for two 2014 Outer Critics Circle Award nominations, for Outstanding New Broadway Play and Outstanding Actor in a Play (Brían F. O’Byrne). [10] The play received two 2014 Drama Desk Award nominations: Outstanding Play and Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play (Peter Maloney). [11]

The play received one 2014 Tony Award nomination, for Best Play. [12]

Film adaptation

Shanley wrote and directed a film adaptation of his play titled Wild Mountain Thyme. It stars Emily Blunt and Jamie Dornan and was released on December 11, 2020.

Related Research Articles

Debra Messing American actress

Debra Lynn Messing is an American actress. After graduating from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, Messing received short-lived roles on television series such as Ned and Stacey on Fox (1995–1997) and Prey on ABC (1998). She achieved her breakthrough role as Grace Adler, an interior designer, on the NBC sitcom Will & Grace, for which she received seven Golden Globe Award nominations and five Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, winning once, in 2003.

<i>The Glass Menagerie</i> Play by Tennessee Williams

The Glass Menagerie is a memory play by Tennessee Williams that premiered in 1944 and catapulted Williams from obscurity to fame. The play has strong autobiographical elements, featuring characters based on its author, his histrionic mother, and his mentally fragile sister. In writing the play, Williams drew on an earlier short story, as well as a screenplay he had written under the title of The Gentleman Caller.

Drama Desk Award New York theater awards

The Drama Desk Award is an annual prize recognizing excellence in New York theatre. First bestowed in 1955 as the Vernon Rice Award, the prize initially honored Off-Broadway productions, as well as Off-off-Broadway, and those in the vicinity. Following the 1964 renaming as the Drama Desk Awards, Broadway productions were included beginning with the 1968–69 award season. The awards are considered a significant American theater distinction.

John Patrick Shanley American writer

John Patrick Shanley is an American playwright, screenwriter, and director. He won the 1988 Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for the film Moonstruck. His play, Doubt: A Parable, won the 2005 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the 2005 Tony Award for Best Play; he wrote and directed the film adaptation and earned a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay.

Jefferson Mays American actor

Lewis Jefferson Mays is an American actor. He is the recipient of numerous accolades, including a Tony Award, a Helen Hayes Award, a Lucille Lortel Award, two Drama Desk Awards, two Outer Critics Circle Awards and three Obie Awards.

Megan Hilty American musical theatre actress

Megan Kathleen Hilty is an American actress and singer. She rose to prominence for her roles in Broadway musicals, including her performance as Glinda the Good Witch in Wicked, Doralee Rhodes in 9 to 5: The Musical, and her Tony Award–nominated role as Brooke Ashton in Noises Off. She also starred as Ivy Lynn on the musical-drama series Smash, on which she sang the Grammy Award-nominated "Let Me Be Your Star", and portrayed Liz on the sitcom Sean Saves the World.

Stephanie J. Block American actress and singer

Stephanie Janette Block is an American actress and singer, best known for her work on the Broadway stage.

The Outer Critics Circle Awards are presented annually for theatrical achievements both on Broadway and Off-Broadway. They are presented by the Outer Critics Circle (OCC), the official organization of New York theater writers for out-of-town newspapers, digital and national publications, and other media beyond Broadway. The awards were first presented during the 1949–50 theater season, celebrating their 70th anniversary in 2020. David Gordon, Senior Features Reporter at TheaterMania.com, currently serves as president.

Will Chase American actor and singer

Frank William Chase is an American actor, director, and singer, best known for his work in Broadway musicals and in his role as country superstar Luke Wheeler on ABC's Nashville.

Patrick Page American actor

John Patrick Page is an American actor, low bass singer, and playwright. He originated the roles of Norman Osborn/Green Goblin in Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, The Grinch in Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical, and Hades in Hadestown. He also played Menenius in Red Bull Theater's Coriolanus.

Brían Francis O'Byrne is an Irish actor who works and lives in the United States. He was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for his role in the miniseries Mildred Pierce (2011) and won a BAFTA TV Award for his role in the drama series Little Boy Blue (2017).

Scott Sanders (producer)

Scott Sanders is an Emmy-, Grammy-, and Tony-winning American television producer, film producer and theatre producer. His theatrical musical version of Alice Walker's novel The Color Purple, for which he was Lead Producer alongside co-producers Oprah Winfrey and Quincy Jones, premiered on Broadway in 2005, garnering 11 Tony Award Nominations including Best Musical.

64th Tony Awards

The 64th Annual Tony Awards took place on Sunday, June 13, 2010, held again at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. The host was Sean Hayes. These awards recognize Broadway productions during the 2009–2010 season. The cut off-date for Tony eligibility was April 29, 2010, and the nominations were announced on May 4.

Douglas Besterman is an American orchestrator, musical arranger and music producer. He is the recipient of three Tony Awards out of six total nominations and two Drama Desk Awards out of six total nominations, and was a 2009 Grammy Award nominee.

Dan Moses Schreier is an American composer and sound designer. He is best known for his theatrical music work, on Broadway and elsewhere.

The 68th Annual Tony Awards were held June 8, 2014, to recognize achievement in Broadway productions during the 2013–14 season. The ceremony was held at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, and was televised live on CBS. Hugh Jackman was the host, his fourth time hosting. The 15 musical Tony Awards went to seven different musicals, and six plays shared the 11 play Tony Awards.

Mothers and Sons is a play by Terrence McNally, which opened on Broadway in 2014.

Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill is a play with music by Lanie Robertson, recounting some events in the life of Billie Holiday. The play premiered in 1986 at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia, and soon played Off-Broadway. The play opened on Broadway in 2014.

69th Tony Awards

The 69th Annual Tony Awards were held on June 7, 2015, to recognize achievement in Broadway productions during the 2014–15 season. The ceremony was held at Radio City Music Hall in New York City and broadcast live by CBS. Kristin Chenoweth and Alan Cumming hosted the ceremony.

<i>Wild Mountain Thyme</i> (film) 2020 film directed by John Patrick Shanley

Wild Mountain Thyme is a 2020 romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by John Patrick Shanley, based on his play Outside Mullingar. The film stars Emily Blunt, Jamie Dornan, Jon Hamm, Dearbhla Molloy and Christopher Walken.

References

  1. ↑ Gans, Andrew. "John Patrick Shanley's 'Outside Mullingar', Exploring Land and Love, Opens on Broadway Jan. 23" playbill.com, January 23, 2014
  2. 1 2 Gans, Andrew. "John Patrick Shanley's 'Outside Mullingar' Ends Broadway Run March 16" playbill.com
  3. ↑ Voss, Brandon. "Gracing Broadway — Debra Messing Returns to the Stage in MTC's 'Outside Mullingar'" playbill.com, January 4, 2014
  4. ↑ " 'Outside Mullingar' " manhattantheatreclub.com, accessed April 23, 2014
  5. ↑ Shanley, John Patrick."John Patrick Shanley on His Irishness and 'Outside Mullingar'" The New York Times, January 9, 2014
  6. ↑ Isherwood, Charles. Outside Mullingar,’ by John Patrick Shanley, Opens" The New York Times, January 23, 2014
  7. ↑ Gardner, Elysa. John Patrick Shanley returns to Broadway with a modest, charming romantic comedy" USA Today, January 23, 2014
  8. ↑ O'Toole, Fintan (22 February 2014). "Outside Mullingar, and beyond the edge of awfulness". The Irish Times .
  9. ↑ Gardner, Lyn (28 April 2015). "Outside Mullingar review – emotional bogginess in rural Ireland". The Guardian . Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  10. ↑ Gans, Andrew. "64th Annual Outer Critics Circle Awards Nominations Announced; 'A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder' Leads the Pack" Archived 2014-07-14 at the Wayback Machine playbill.com, April 22, 2014
  11. ↑ Gans, Andrew. "2014 Annual Drama Desk Awards Nominations Announced; 'Gentleman's Guide' Earns 12 Nominations" playbill.com, April 25, 2014
  12. ↑ Gans, Andrew. "68th Annual Tony Awards Nominations Announced; 'Gentleman's Guide' Leads the Pack" playbill.com, April 29, 2014
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.