A journey of craic, coffee shops and self-discovery at 60.
Newly widowed Kate, childminder-in-chief Roisin and their best friend Oonagh have decided enough is enough. Life is too short, they’re going to follow in their children’s footsteps and take a Gap Year. Thailand? Europe? Down Under? No, they’re visiting every county in Ireland, sure there’s a few they’ve never even heard of!
It’s time for castles, coffee and craic as three women in their 60s go on the adventure of a lifetime.
A Lyric Theatre Production in association with Commedia of Errors, The Gap Year is a triumph of local effort, and one which Carrickfergus playwright Clare McMahon and director Benjamin Gould get spot on from the get go. We start the proceedings at the funeral of Kate’s husband, which sets the tone for a deeper story than just three mates travelling around and having a bit of craic, but don’t be mistaken – when the craic comes around, it’s definitely ninety.
When Kate’s best friend Oonagh persuades her to stop moping around and start living life again by going on a trip with her and their third musketeer Roisin, these three definitely get more than they bargained for. From camping in Donegal to arguing with nuns in Galway, there’s a lot of stories to be told when you spend a year visiting every county in Ireland. As expected, it’s not just the beautiful scenery keeping this trio going, it’s the weird and wonderful cast of characters that they encounter along the way that make this a trip one worth remembering.
Frankie McCafferty, Keith Singleton and Meghan Tyler do an outstanding job as the ensemble cast, with a range of accents, props and characters between them. Frankie McCafferty does an especially poignant portrayal of Pat, an elderly man who has suffered a stroke, and Keith Singleton and Meghan Tyler bring some comic relief each time they walk on stage.
Carol Moore’s Kate is a force to be reckoned with, headstrong, confident and opinionated, yet tinged with the sadness and emptiness that grief brings; Marion O’Dwyer’s Oonagh brings some life to the party as she works through her impending divorce by flirting with a much younger man in Dingle; and Libby Smyth’s Roisin who has just been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s pulls on our heartstrings as the doting grandmother in more ways than one.
There’s nothing quite like living vicariously through others as they travel, make new friends and create memories which last forever, but if you had asked me would three 60-somethings be on my list of people to follow, I would have scoffed.
Luckily The Gap Year, had me laughing in all the right places, and I would happily join Kate, Roisin and Oonagh on their trip around Ireland any day as they face love, loss, grief, friendship, family and everything in between.
The Gap Year is running at the Lyric Theatre in Belfast until 25th September. To find out more information or to book tickets, click here.
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