PROBABLY more faithful to the shape and fabric of Patrick Kavanagh's original novel than was P.J. O'Connor's earlier stage adaptation in 1966, Conall Morrison's new adaptation energetically and imaginatively directed by the adapter himself - still does not manage to inject drama into the piece. Rather, the almost documentary quality of the novelist's picture of peasant life in Cavan of the 1930s is here invested with theatricality rather than narrative thrust.
The farm animals are played by actors as a kind of comic chorus around young Tarry as he struggles between a harsh peasant reality and the fantasy of poetry and literature. The movements of both the not so dumb animals and averagely thick hate your neighbour peasants are excellently choreographed by David Bolger in a no expenses spared setting by Francis O'Connor, patchily lit by Nick McCall, on which the vast cast can swirl around the gauchely hapless Tarry.
The net effect is funny and entertaining beyond question, but its appeal is that of the satirical revue rather than of a substantial drama, and its conclusion (like that of the novel) is arbitrary as Tarry finally leaves the townland of Drumnay with an intinerant uncle who turns up out of the blue to rescue the 28 year old would be poet from his rustic dilemmas. And even that effect was lessened somewhat last night by a lack of clarity by many of the actors, who seemed to be shouting the text at us rather than projecting their words to us.
James Kennedy's Tarry is suitably physically and emotionally inept, whether dealing with a truculent horse, a bullying priest, a desirable woman, or the managing director of his life, his manipulative sexist mother with more plans to further the farm than the family. Pauline Flanagan is a proper tower of strength as Mrs Flynn, and Helen Norton, Cathy White and Deirdre Molloy are her three dim and down trodden daughters.
Des Nealon and Barry Cassin are the domineering priests, Vinnie McCabe the vengeful neighbour, Lynn Cahill the local sexpot and Mary O'Driscoll is Tarry's idealised true love, whom he can never manage to relate to. Niall O'Brien is the passing uncle and there are some excellent hens, a superb horse and high levels of energy and physical skills from all of the large cast. It offers theatrical fun even as it remains dramatically intractable.
