Michael D to attend ‘Valley’ premiere
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The Valley of the Squinting Windows will have its world stage premiere in the Mullingar Arts Centre on November 19. The cast from left: Philip Judge, Billie Traynor, Maria McDermottroe, Clelia Murphy, Ross Gaynor, Siobhan Callaghan, Gina Costigan, and in front: Maeve McGrath, Sean Doyle, and Daniel Egerton.Image 2 of 2
Community actors at back from left: Jean Hynes, James Elliffe, Aidan O’Rourke, Christy Cole, Caolan Moriarty, Daniel Egerton, middle row: Bernie McHugh Clare Egan Grace O’Gara and in front: director Michael Scott, Emily Shaw, Emily Flynn, Aidan Tuite, Eleanor MacDonagh, Caoilfhinn Ni Choiligh, Veronica MacDonagh, and Siobhan Moore.President Michael D Higgins is to attend the premiere of The Valley of the Squinting Windows, the prestige production to be staged by Mullingar Arts Centre to mark the 21st anniversary of the venue’s opening.
It was actually President Higgins, then Minister for Culture who officially opened the Mullingar Arts Centre.
The premiere of the Brinsley McNamara book adapted for the stage and directed by Michael Scott, is to be a special gala occasion, and is fixed for November 19. With a company of professional actors and community players, it uses modern technologies available to drag McNamara’s book into the 21st Century.
Brinsley MacNamara, whose real name was John Weldon, was born near Devlin in 1890. His father was the local school teacher. He joined the Abbey Theatre Company in 1909 and toured with it in the United States. In 1912 he decided to devote his time to writing and The Valley of the Squinting Windows, published in 1918, established him as a leading Irish writer, though it raised a storm of violent protest.
In the background was the Playboy Riots at the Abbey in 1907, when The Playboy of the Western World opened at the Abbey Theatre and caused such a fuss that projectiles were flung at the stage. The burning of The Valley of the Squinting Windows followed in Delvin in 1918.
McNamara went on to write six novels, two books of short stories and many plays for the Abbey of which he was, for a time, a director. He died in February 1963.
Michael Scott said “when bringing this book to the stage it’s also important to remember its controversial history, and to lay those particular ghosts to rest”, while creating a great evening of theatre that can pull you to the edge of your seat.
Chairman of the Mullingar Arts Centre board of directors John McGrath has expressed delight and excitement at this endeavour.
"Mullingar Arts Centre is very proud to be hosting the first stage adaptation and world premiere of the iconic book," he said.