Outside Mullingar – Location, Tickets, Reviews
From Pultizer, Tony and Oscar-wining playwright John Patrick Shanley (theater: Doubt; Film: Moonstruck) comes Outside Mullingar, a lightweight romantic comedy set in rural Ireland. The great Brian F. O’Byrne plays Anthony Reilly, a 42-year old farmer poised to inherit his father’s land – with two slight complications. His stubborn old father, Tony (Peter Maloney), would rather sell the farm to a distant American relative and, more to the point, he refuses to give the land to anyone unless a key stretch of the property that Tony sold to an old friend, is returned to him. When Tony dispatches the quiet, nose-to-the-grindstone Anthony to retrieve the land from its current owner, the old friend’s forty-something, firebrand daughter Rosemary (“Will & Grace’s” Debra Messing), two the inheritors grapple with the desires of their parents and their mutual desire for each other which has simmered for decades.
Billed as “an Irish Moonstruck,'” Outside Mullingar might be a fun experience for those unfamiliar with Shanley’s work – far from the dark, morally stark world of Doubt, this play is what a meet-cute romantic comedy looks like when written by a Pultizer Prize winner. It’s funny, it’s adorable, but it bucks rom-com formula and takes serious risks – sometimes it’s downright weird.
Maxamoo
Ultimately, we admired Shanley’s effort, but Outside Mullingar never quite worked for us. Despite a sensational performance from O’Byrne, Outside Mullingar is a little too light and fluffy to be worth the cost of a Broadway ticket. There are some moments when Shanley’s fluency with odd details, comic timing and deep insight bubble to the top of the sleepy script, but not often enough. Scenes that begin with fine, aching romantic tension soon become boring and droning – or worse, the most predictable flavor of rom-com movie treacle. (Though it was kinda fun to watch Debra Messing wrestle with her Irish accent, only to barely win by default).
Public Opinion
Response has been positive on the social media:
@briandarcyjames: “LOVED LOVED LOVED Outside Mullingar @MTC_NYC. @DebraMessing and @brianfobyrne – brilliant! Great play, great night!”
@adamjkantor: “Still under the spell of @JohnJpshanley‘s beautiful new play OUTSIDE MULLINGAR. @brianfobyrne and @DebraMessing melted my non-Irish heart.”
@sethcwalters: “Holy great play, Batman! Don’t walk, RUN to see @DebraMessing in @MTC_NYC‘s OUTSIDE MULLINGAR”
Critics reviews
We’re baffled by the positive critical response, thought the critics would see straight through this thing.
New York Times
Weary, Brooding and Made for Each Other
New York Post
Messing is Fine but Basically Miscast in Outside Mullingar
Time Out New York
John Patrick Shanley’s whimsical rom-com turns out to have the luck of the Irish.
Variety
This tender family drama by John Patrick Shanley is brought to life by a letter-perfect cast that includes Debra Messing.
TheaterMania
John Patrick Shanley’s latest Broadway play stars Debra Messing and Brían F. O’Byrne as a pair of loners.
New York Magazine
Outside Mullingar Is a Shamrock Shake
AndrewAndrew
Video Review
TICKETS
$67.00 – $125.00 (click here for tickets)
DATES
Performances through March 16, 2014
LOCATION
Samuel J. Friedman Theatre
261 W 47th Street
New York City
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RUNNING TIME
1 hour and 30 minutes, no intermission
NEWS
Maxamoo’s early buzz post
CAST & CREW
(partial list)
Written by John Patrick Shanley
Directed by Dough Hughes
Featuring Brian F. O’Byrne, Peter Maloney, Dearbhla Molloy & Debra Messing