Athlone playwright stages new play in Little Theatre

Local playwright, Margaret McKenna Mullan, is very excited to be bringing her humorous and touching original play “All for the love of Mammy” to the stage of Athlone Little Theatre next week for a five night run. The play begins on Tuesday night next, May 23 and runs until Saturday May 27 inclusive.

Margaret was inspired to write the play having been closely involved in caring for her mother for the last two years of her life. Margaret's mother, Catherine McKenna, from Assumption Road, was sufferings from alzheimers, and the play is a humorous and touching portrayal of the mother/daughter relationship as roles are reversed due to the daughter becoming carer and protector of her ageing mother.

The play is directed by accomplished director, Jackie Madden, with Margaret McKenna Mullan playing the leading role of Maisie, which is based on the character of her own late mother. Starring alongside her, in the daughter role, is another very familiar name in local theatrical circles, the award-winning Ann Hoey, who plays the part of Angela. One of Margaret's adored granddaughters, Anna Marie Mullan (who is seven years old) has travelled from New York to make an appearance on stage alongside her grandmother.

This is the sixth play to be written by Margaret McKenna Mullan, and she admits that it has been a very emotional journey for herself and her extended family as it is a very personal story. Despite the poignant subject of a vibrant woman's descent into dementia, and the humour and sadness between mother and daughter as alzheimers and dementia threaten to overcome both their lives, there are many laughs for the audience. In fact, the play is laced with humour throughout and is sure to be a huge hit with local audiences.

Tickets for “All for the love of Mammy” are priced at €12 each and the play begins each night at 8pm.