Little Brother's ‘Bothered and Bewildered' back this weekend - by popular demand

Comedy drama ‘Bothered and Bewildered’ by Gail Young returns to Mullingar Arts Centre this weekend following huge demand for tickets for the previous run (last week).

Presented by local group Little Brother Productions, this tragicomedy revolves around one woman’s struggle with Alzheimer’s.

The play touches on many aspects of Irish society, and while it might sound ‘heavy’, director Sean Lynch says it is anything but.

The play follows Irene and her two daughters Louise and Beth as the girls lose their mother in spirit but not in body.

As her family struggle to come to terms with her Alzheimer’s, Irene’s past passion for romantic literature blurs reality.

She spends hours discussing how best to write her ‘memory book’ with her imaginary friend and favourite author Barbara Cartland (the deceased world famous romantic novelist), disclosing long kept family secrets that she would never divulge to her daughters.

This tragi-comedy is about memory, loss, secrets and, above all, love.

“To direct this piece was cathartic for me because my own mother died from Alzheimer’s,” said Sean.

“For the family, Alzheimer’s is a bittersweet disease.

"In one sense it is a death sentence, but for the person themselves, they are often blissfully unaware of the reality of the situation.

“What this play does is shine the light on the comic moments held within what is a sad situation.

"Secrets comes out, and many of the themes touch on the darker aspects of Irish society.”

Starring a local cast consisting of Mary Hughes, who plays Irene, many of her secrets are revealed to imaginary friend Barbara Cartland, acted by Pauline Kinsella.

This interaction provides comic relief, as Irene’s daughters, Louise and Beth, played by Irene Dunne and Clare Egan, struggle to come to terms with the disease and the secrets that lie in her past.

Rachel Thompson plays a young Irene, and later Irene’s granddaughter Shelly.

Sam Gilmartin plays James, Irene’s young love interest, and doubles up as her son.

Aidan O’Rourke takes on the role of consultant, while James Elliffe the role of a local guard, and Aimee McManus plays Irene’s GP.

• Tickets for ‘Bothered and Bewildered’ are available online or from Mullingar Arts Centre on 044 93 47777.