What would ma say? A warts and all look at Dublin life in the 50s and 60s
By Niall Sweeney
The Ireland in the 1950’s and 60’s is far removed from the Ireland we’ve come to know today in 2018. For many it was a time of poverty and making do with what you had.
This theme of poverty is explored in What Would Ma Say?, a warts and all look at Dublin life back then. The play stars Ma, a strong matriarch figure navigating the ups and downs of family life with her children.
Playwright Gerard Ronan
Originally written in book form by Kathleen Doyle, it has been adapted to the stage by Drimnagh born director and playwright Gerard Ronan. The 70 year old told The Echo about his career thus far, and what ‘Ma’ means to him.
Tell us a bit about your background, Gerard.
I grew up in Drimnagh, got married and moved to Tallaght in 1972. I was in Tallaght until four years ago when I moved to Rathfarnham, and at the moment I’m here with my daughter.
How did you first break into writing and directing?
I always wanted to do it ,but I was nearly 50 when I started in 1997. My brother had a drama group, he asked me to play a part one time and that was it. I wrote my first play in 2000 called Crack’n Up which was at the Civic Theatre and was a huge success. Then, Kathleen and I met in 2012 to discuss adapting her book to a play.
How personal are your plays to you?
Crack’n Up was very personal. I wrote it from knowledge of my own family life and events surrounding that. After that I wrote more comedy oriented plays. There’s a bit of me in all of them. I don’t think any playwright can write something without having a knowledge of people. In theatre, it’s important to have a mix of the funny and the serious.
How long is the typical writing process?
It could take weeks or months, mostly months. You don’t get the time. I might write for a day, then a few hours, then another day. It really depends on how the story comes into your head. I could have a scene done, then go out and see something, a better idea that would change the story, so it’s never a short journey.
Could you describe Ma’s role in the play?
Ma was a real person. Living in the Tenements, she didn’t have much…Lil Doyle was a powerful woman, who suffered a brain tumour. She used to wear a pair of tights wrapped around her head to numb the pain. She’s a funny, strong character. She wouldn’t take any crap from anybody.
What is the theme/s of the play?
What I hoped, and I’m sure Kathleen was the same, was that it relates to today’s poverty issue in Ireland. But for the mothers of today, that have these problems, they can all be overcome. If Lil Doyle can raise 13 children with no money coming in, and little work to make ends meet, you can cope. Strength and faith.
What’s your favourite play you’ve written,and why?
Crack’n Up. It was just after the 80’s when all the drugs hit Tallaght, and a member of my wider family got hooked on them. At that time, I was a bit of a drinker, and so I have a contrast of people in the pub having a laugh, and the other terrible stuff in the area. One night in the Civic, an American woman approached me and asked “were you living in my house when you wrote that?!.”
I did a scene with a heroin addict showing him mixing it, and injecting himself on stage. You could hear a pin drop.
Any advice for other playwrights?
Just put it down on paper. Anything that comes to mind. When you have it all done, look back.You don’t have to construct the book as you’re writing. Push to get it out there, although It’s difficult. We have a system in our company where if you send in your stuff, we will look at it, and if it’s good enough, we will back it with money and actors. Also, I just want to thank Kathleen Doyle, without her there would be no play to speak of.
What Would Ma Say?, which showed at the Civic Theatre in Tallaght last week, is playing in the Axis Theatre, Ballymun on April 4.
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