Abbey Theatre - Amharclann na Mainistreach

My wife and I utterly enjoyed the play when we attended on the 18th of August.
The acting by all was outstanding with some astounding performances that were very emotional to watch at times.

The director has done this play their own way and credit where it is due, it works accordingly in its own fashion. Using the cast alone to change scenes even in itself was a joy to watch as it showed just how smoothly the whole production was put together down to the finest detail.

I have only one bad thing to say and thats about the muppets who on our night of attending, let their phones go off twice in the audience. Bad form by them indeed.
Leaving those idiots aside, my wife and I can without question recommend anyone to go see this production.

Top class all around and a credit to all involved, on stage and behind the scenes. Just brilliant, well done to all.

I am astonished to read some of the comments below but am glad (in a quiet way) that there is such an open forum for opinion available here.  And so, I enjoyed this production enormously - smart and energetic.  Some tiring over-acting from Joe Hanley and Denise Gough who, while good actors, really just look like they’re scene stealing whenever they’re onstage, couldn’t detract from the massive achievement of the supporting cast.  From the toweringly vulnerable Woman From Rathmines to the nuanced British soilders who close the play and all the brilliant turns between, this play succeed for me due to the commitment of the ensemble.

Brilliant: a great cast giving a great performance bringing a great production a light; O’Casey the way he was meant.

Just in and we are still discussing it,such a fantastic night, best irish theatre iv seen in a long time. Nearly forgot how powerful O Caseys work is,but this play made it all feel almost relevant to me.
I loved the music, was quite nostalgic, the costumes were fantastic.Divided over the set, yes for the amazing wholes and feeling of disjoint and tenemants,but the curtains looked a bit cheapy as the GPO.
The acting was brilliant,whole cast were really well selected,the best,plenty well known and upcoming faces. We all felt Nora had an english accent in bits which was a pity,and the the woman from rathmines was also very english sounding,however that was only if we were pushed to give any one criticism.
Recommened anyone to have an evening at the abbey theatre,really is beautiful,comfortable seating,great bar,great service.

Excellent production, thoroughly enjoyed it from beginning to end and felt that entire cast did justice to this wonderful play. Joe Hanley and Denise Gough were incredibly powerful in their performances and had the audience in the palm of their hands. I’d highly recommend taking a trip to the Abbey to see The Plough and the Stars as it demonstrates Irish Theatre at its best! Congratulations to all involved.

What a shambles.  The producer obviously trying to modernise this superb O’Casey only succeeded in presenting a series of disjointed monologues against a “set” comprising badly painted bed sheets and a rather alarming hole in the stage in the final act which the players managed to avoid falling into. The alteration in parts of the script (Mollser “silently seen no more") was not appreciated by this theatre goer. The sexualising of the scene between Nora and Jack very unO’Casey like. I could go on but will stick to attending amateur productions of this compelling play.

I had never seen a Sean O’Casey play before, and I was absolutely astounded and amazed at the brilliant performance and direction of The Plough and the Stars. The scene changes were done rhythmically and swiftly, watching the stage being pulled together differently for each act was a magical treat. The overall direction suited the pay perfectly, and the casting, spot on.

Denise Gough’s performance as Nora was heart-wrenching yet beautiful, as she filled the room with her emotive powers. Joe Hanley as Fluther was also utterly brilliant and comical as well. 

I laughed, I cried, and I would absolutely see it again. Highly recommended to everyone!

A super play whose modernisation takes a step forward with this production. However,Abbey Theatre adds relevance and breaths new life into a classic,and it is time they had a production that will shcok its audiences anew. Casting the ensemble was clever,Dara Devany made a notably handsome Brennan, Emma Eliza Regans lent a waif,slightly mysterious Mollser,and the similar looking young Laurence Kinlan and Ciarán O’Brien at opposite ends of a rifle is quiite poignant. Nora Cliteroe was propped up both literally and physically by a fine ensemble cast and perhaps in hands of a stronger actress it would have worked, Joe Hanley embodied Fluther with a fine performance.

This was a fantastic production and i thought that the set was WONDERFUL! it was so true to the play and perfectly cast.The only dampener on the night was the woman in front who kept waving her hat around in an attempt to fan herself!!

I was at last nights show and myself and my husband absolutely loved it.
The cast were superb, but the 2 that stood out for me were Joe Hanley and Laurence Kinlan. I will be recommending this to all my friends. Thanks so much for a wonderful Production. Paula