A review by Tom Dayton
Photos: Ken McGuire
During my years studying journalism, there was lots of advice handed out by our tutors. Students were advised on possible scenarios that might come our way. Meeting the apostles of Jesus never came up. So, it came as a surprise when this happened in Kilkenny recently. I will come back to that.
Growing up in New Ross in the ‘80s, attending church on a weekly basis wasn’t exactly part and parcel of my life. When I later went to study and work in Galway that trend didn’t change. However, like many of my age, I had no issue in attending Easter or Christmas ceremonies as part of the family tradition. And so, when I discovered that Lake Productions’ choice of play for 2025 was a story depicting the last weeks in the life of Jesus, I wasn’t at all sure if this was a production for me. The Man Born to be King was a co-production between The Dominicans at Kilkenny’s Black Abbey and Lake Productions. The Abbey, celebrating 800 years of existence, wanted to celebrate the birthday by producing a mystery play.
Reading the programme note by Black Abbey priest Fr Tom Jordan gives a clear and welcome synopsis of mystery plays. Although the experience of going to plays stretches back to ancient Greece, the practice had died out in the early middle ages in Europe. It may be surprising to learn that there was a revival of drama in western Europe in the later middle ages. It is further surprising that the revival grew out of the church’s liturgy and that Kilkenny and Dublin were both associated with it in Ireland. There are various accounts of street drama in Kilkenny. One such, dates from 1552 but it is clear that for years previously, perhaps for a century or more, the mystery plays had become well established in the public life of Kilkenny. It is even possible that the people who worshipped in the Black Abbey witnessed the early development in the church.
The Abbey
The Dominican friars arrived in Kilkenny in 1225. To mark the 800th anniversary of the foundation of the Black Abbey, Lake Productions presentation of The Man Born to be King couldn’t be more apt.
The Black Abbey, a Catholic priory of the Dominican Order, was established in 1225 as one of the first houses of the Dominican Order in Ireland. The name Black Abbey derives from the use of the term ‘Black Friars’ to describe members of the Dominican Order. This in turn derives from the black cappa or cloak which Dominicans wear over their white habits. It is a most fantastic building that oozes holiness and history.
Previous shows
I have been lucky enough to have seen previous Lake productions such as Trad, The Kings of the Kilburn High Road, After Sarah Miles, Moll and Da. All superb shows. The Man Born to be King is another production that this group can be proud of. Apart from wonderful acting, the setting was spectacular, complemented by a simple yet powerful lighting plan.
Primary colours blue and red soaked into the 800 year architecture. Then, mixing both, the colour purple gave the space a mixed concept, including royalty, luxury, wealth, and power. The lighting shouted of creativity, wisdom, spirituality, and magic by combining the energy of various colours. As any colour specialist will tell you, purple can suggest uniqueness, independence, and emotional balance, while also being associated with mystery and ambition. Cigar to the LX designer.
A special show
A cast of over thirty delivered not just a play depicting the life of Jesus. It created history for The Black Abbey, and the theatre fraternity. It was a special show that gave joy to those who attended, and Lake deserves great kudos for producing and presenting this spectacle. While it would be impossible to highlight each actor, it is important to stress that it was as fine an example of ensemble acting as has been seen in quite a while, with each actor contributing to the overall show. However, I will be forgiven for highlighting Eoghan Fingleton who played the role of Jesus. He was utterly believable and carried the role with an authenticity it deserved.
Human touch
I attempted to figure out why the performance appealed to me. I think it is because there seemed to be a deliberate effort by the company to treat the apostles, and indeed Jesus, as ordinary folk, allowing us to empathise with all the characters. And there were many. Especially amongst the Apostles, each jockeying for position with the Son of God. Personally I have to say I was gripped from beginning to end. I am not aware of whose idea it was to introduce the five Evangelists, who knitted the show together through their commentary, but it was a wonderful decision that helped inform the audience from scene to scene. As was the introduction of The Gospel choir who gave the show a tremendous lift. I particularly enjoyed the way the director used the actors to mingle with the audience bringing an extra punch to the show.
As anyone who may have read my theatre reviews for The Kilkenny Observer over the past few years, you will know I regularly allude to my involvement with the Galway theatre society and The Town Hall theatre. I usually mention this to impress on readers the absolute respect I have for people who perform on stage. It takes a lot of bottle to put yourself out there. I also know the work involved in preparing for a show. Backstage, rehearsals and costumes. This production’s choice of costumes was nothing short of spectacular. From the High Priests, The Apostles, Jesus, Mary Magdalene, Pontius Pilate, and The Roman soldiers, the costumes were wonderfully designed. It was while drinking a few post show pints in O’Riada’s with four of the Apostles, (not a line I thought I’d ever write as a journalist) that I learned all costumes were designed and made by the Lake company. A second cigar merited here.
The production was adapted for stage by John Morton, and superbly directed by Darren Donohue.
I am already looking forward to the Lakes March production of The Weir, which according to the programme is making its way to Thomastown in March.
