Outside Mullingar explores love in the Irish Midlands, to October 18

A shy farmer struggles to save his inheritance in Honeybee Productions’ rendition of John Patrick Shanley’s romantic comedy

Vanessa Walsh and Ryan Cowie in *Outside Mullingar*.

Honeybee Productions presents Outside Mullingar at Jericho Arts Centre from October 2 to 18

IT’S FAIR TO SAY that John Patrick Shanley knows his way around a romantic comedy. Yes, the acclaimed American playwright and screenwriter did write Doubt: A Parable, a Tony- and Pulitzer-winning drama about abuse within the Catholic Church.

On the other hand, he also won a best-original screenplay Oscar for Moonstruck. Not only that, Shanley first paired up Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan (for 1990’s Joe Versus the Volcano, which he also directed), so his rom-com bona fides are unimpeachable.

There’s no meet-cute in Outside Mullingar; the leads live in the rural Irish Midlands and grew up on neighbouring farms. It turns out that Rosemary has long harboured romantic feelings for the shy Anthony, who is—wouldn’t you just know it—blissfully unaware of that fact.

When Anthony’s dad determines that his son doesn’t “love the land” sufficiently, he threatens to leave it to his nephew instead. Naturally, Rosemary steps in, attempting to literally save the farm… And maybe win Anthony’s love? Who knows!

Directed by Jonathan Wilde for Honeybee Productions, Outside Mullingar stars Ryan Cowie, Vanessa Walsh, Adam Henderson, and P. Lynn Johnson.

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John Lucas

John Lucas has covered music and the arts for longer than he cares to think about. He can also be found playing his guitar in dodgy rehearsal spaces and low-rent venues in and around Vancouver.

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