Abbey Theatre - Amharclann na Mainistreach

So after taking the time to express my feeling about Ballymumbler I got a message that says only 1000 characters are allowed! Probably too much effort to mention that at an earlier point? So I conclude that this little system needs a lot of work ... just like that infernally awful play that I had to sit through the other night. Who do I see for a refund ? A realy big BOO to the Abbey for allowing this nonsense !

This was one of my worst theatre nights. Five of us went and we all thought it tedious (how long did Andrew ramble on for before he mentioned the shooting?) and unreal (the local GP treating a shotgun injury to the abdomen; no hospital!). The dialogue and language were anything but lyrical! The opening fifteen minutes promised much but the rest was inexorably boring. Most of the people I heard talking about it outside afterwards seemed to feel likewise. In my opinion and that of my guests if an anonymous writer sent in this play it would not be published let alone produced. Sorry!

Hi,
Went to see the play on saturday night last and found it to be utterly disappointing. The storyline is nothing new and I felt it to be dull and tedious.
Considering the price of the tickets no enjoyment and not good value for money.Not a very uplifting experience for me.

My husband and I travelled from Galway in high anticipation of Tales of Ballycumber having respectively enjoyed A Long Long Way and The Secret Scripture.  The play, if nothing else, generated much discussion… I loved it albeit without fully grasping some of what was going on, Him Indoors found it slow-moving and overly lyrical ("it’s just not how people talk") - however I found the lyricism contrasted nicely with the use of local Wickla’ dialect, “chaps” for kids, and so on.  The examinations of the various parent-child relationships were the most interesting aspect of the play to me, the set was impactful, and the acting assured and moving.

Overall, it was good evening’s entertainment and stimulated much conversation, although I did come away with a couple of blanks over some aspects of the play.

My reaction to ‘Tales of Ballycumber’ was akin to not really understanding a poem but nevertheless admiring the language, imagery, authentic rustic references, etc. The storyline here was largely incomprehensible; and the unrelenting intensity and slow pace of the piece became tedious. The acting was of a high standard, with beautiful performances from Liam Carney (Andrew) and Aaron Monaghan (Evans). For all its efforts, this seemed more a worthwhile intellectual thesis than a play. Or, to put it another way: as written and constructed, it was misplaced on the stage.

Finally, as a much-looked-forward-to evening at the theatre, it was bad value for good money: we found ourselves out on the street after only 90 minutes!

Travelled up to Dublin to see play last night, I love Stephen Rea as an actor, again he did not let me down. Having lost my brother to suicide 18 years ago the story line was very real, the pain, hurt, anguish, the why, “what did you say to him?....”
This is real Ireland in 2009, and nothing has changed, and there are places like Ballycumber where time has stood still.
The acting at times I thought too slow, the pauses too deliberate, sometimes awkward, and this for me prevented the scenes from flowing...overall realistic and enjoyable.

The central story of the play was poignant and touching. Barry’s language is rich and eloquent but unfortunately when it came to dialogue between the actors became clunky and stilted and didn’t resemble normal day to day conversation. I thought the set design was very imaginative and lent itself well to the background of the story.

Agree with Frank Kelleher above.

As with any writing of Sebastian Barry, the dialogue was beautiful, however the manner in which it was delievered by the cast leaves quite a bit to be desired.
I found the play uninspiring, and only in the last Act was anything resembling emotion evident.
All in all very disappointing.

I saw the play this week with family members of 6 adults, we were all fascinated in different ways about the story, we talked for hours afterwards (over a pint mind)about the play and real life situations.

Very enjoyable, the acting was natural and the storyline intense, thought provoking and the set was realistic. Overall a very good show.

Did I miss something with this play?

The dialogue was unrealistic, overly writerly, and not at all how people genuinely talk, the pacing poor and I could not make head nor tail of the central story, and what we are supposed to realise at the end.

Very very disappointing.

The set design was excellent, though.

I travelled from Donegal yesterday to see Tales of Ballycumber and it was well worth the journey.The opening scene between Nicholas and Evans with their chat and companionable silences really whetted my appetite and as a parent I really felt the pain of Andrew during the scene with Nicholas as he described holding his son as if they were glued together. Sebastian Barry’s language as always was remarkable and I thoroughly enjoyed the whole production though I did feel that some aspects of the storyline were superfluous and not properly explored.

I’m pretty sure the Ballycumber we speak of is indeed the Ballycumber in County Wicklow(near Tinahely, Moyne, Askanagap etc). Sebastian Barry’s family is from the area, as is my own. My Nana used to carry two Barry men in her car (relations of Sebastian Barry) to mass every Sunday in Askanagap abouut 40years ago! Also there’s the fact that Sebastian Barry himself currently lives in Moyne…

Hi Bassy,
I don’t know if you will remember me. I was friends with June Wilson a ‘million’ years ago.  Someone handed me one of your books to read while on holiday abroad this year and I was taken all the way back to the 70’s and Seapoint etc.

I just want to say hi and wish you good luck with your play.

Valerie Busher

is there a place called ballycumber in carlow.if so where ?

I am also curious to know would Ballycumber in Co. Wicklow, have any connection.

That is the name of the place where my father`s people came from, and it is a beautiful area.  Isolated but lovely.

In response to your questions, I spoke to Sebastian Barry earlier at our first read through of the play here in the Abbey, and I can tell you that the ‘Ballycumber’ of the title does not refer to Co.Offaly, but another location in Ireland of the same name. I won’t give away any more for now!

I also was curious as to the use of the name Ballycumber. Does it have any reference to Ballycumber
Co. Offaly?

would like to know where you got the name from, has it any relevance to ballycumber in Co Offaly.?