How Now Brown Cow Proudly Presents
Its Premiere Production of
The Beauty Queen Of Leenane
SEASONS
Theatre on the Square, Johannesburg
4 October 2022 - 29 October 2022
Pam Golding Baxter Theatre, Cape Town
2 August 2023 - 19 August 2023
Written by Martin McDonagh
The Beauty Queen of Leenane, by How Now Brown Cow, is presented by arrangement with Knight Hall Agency Ltd
The Beauty Queen of Leenane was produced by Druid Theatre Company/Royal Court Theatre at the Town Hall Theatre, Galway, Ireland on 1 February 1996. The production subsequently opened at the Royal Court Theatre Upstairs in London on 5 March 1996. The production was subsequently produced by Atlantic Theater Company, New York on February 11, 1998. It then opened on Broadway produced by Atlantic Theater Company, Randall L. Wreghitt, Chase Mishkin, Steven M. Levy and Leonard Soloway in association with Julian Schlossberg and Norma Langworthy on April 14, 1998.”
The Beauty Queen of Leenane, a theatrical masterpiece by acclaimed Irish playwright Martin McDonagh (In Bruge, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, Hangmen) and winner of four Tony Awards, is a darkly comic tale about the turbulent, dysfunctional, and often savage relationship between mother and daughter, Mag and Maureen Folan.
The play centres around the life of Maureen, an unmarried middle-aged woman, as she cares for her ailing mother Mag, and tries to find love. When the two brothers enter, we are set on a path to the play’s thrilling conclusion. Interspersed with romance and humour, this psychological thriller has audiences on the edge of their seats.
The Beauty Queen of Leenane was the debut production from the How Now Brown Cow Productions stable. Said Galloway of this new venture; “It’s been two and a half years since we launched How Now Brown Cow - a new, independent South African based, global production company. It has tested our patience and resolve and we now find ourselves ready to announce our very first stage production. While we’ve had to wait much longer than we would’ve liked, we have kept ourselves busy during this period of waiting. This play by the world renowned Martin McDonagh is the ideal production to launch with.”
Galloway continued; “The Beauty Queen of Leenane is a powerful piece of writing and offers an excellent vehicle to our all-star line-up who together will deliver a world-class piece of theatre. We could not be more excited about our first outing! And as we emerge on the other side of what has been a brutally difficult period for everyone in the theatre sector, I encourage you to buy your tickets and come and see just how good South African talent can be!”
Multi-award winner Charmaine Weir-Smith (The Train Driver) directed a stellar cast starring Jennifer Steyn (Recipes for Love and Murder, The Inconvenience Of Wings) as Mag, Julie-Anne McDowell (The Revlon Girl, Couplet) as Maureen, Bryan Hiles (Sweeney Todd, Cabaret) as Pato and Sven Ruygrok (Spud, Abraham Lincoln) as Ray.
The production was designed by multiple award-winning designers Greg King (set) and Denis Hutchinson (lighting). The production went on to win 5 Naledi Theatre Awards for its season in Johannesburg.
Director - Charmaine Weir-Smith
Set Design - Greg King
Lighting Design - Denis Hutchinson
Stage Manager - Loren Nel
Mag - Jennifer Steyn
Maureen - Julie-Anne McDowell
Pato - Bryan Hiles
Ray - Sven Ruygrok
The Beauty Queen Of Leenane received 7 Naledi Theatre Award Nominations and 2 Fleur Du Cap Award Nominations, winning the following:
Naledi Awards:
Best Production - How Now Brown Cow Productions
Best Director - Charmaine Weir-Smith
Best Set Design - Greg King
Best Supporting Actress - Jennifer Steyn
Best Supporting Actor - Sven Ruygrok
Fleur Du Cap Awards:
Best Supporting Actress - Jennifer Steyn
Best Supporting Actor - Sven Ruygrok
Press and Audience Reviews
“…Just when one thought Jennifer Steyn had reached the apogee of her distinguished acting career, she disproves this assumption with a performance so stellar that it even eclipses the excellence of her co-performers. To the daunting role of Mag, a crone of unparalleled nastiness, she brings a nuanced portrayal of manipulative spite and vulnerability that leaves the audience feeling they have made the acquaintance of a real individual as opposed to a mere theatrical villain. It says much for the rest of the cast that each actor succeeds in shining despite Steyn's magnificence. Lovers of great theatre must not allow themselves to miss this exceptional production.”
Beverley Brommert
“… the acting is superb, all around; the direction feels confident; and the setting is authentic. Even the Irish accents are sustained throughout. And with a tight turnaround of just over 100 minutes, the production fairly whizzes along.”
Karen Rutter
“… The skilful writing of McDonagh, combined with precise direction by Charmaine Weir-Smith ensures we are riveted to the end ... Both Jennifer Steyn, as the awful, manipulative Mag, and Sven Ruygrok, as the crass brother Ray, fully deserve the awards they won…. Julie-Anne McDowell’s Maureen - hopeful, desperate, sad, demented, spiteful, resigned by turns - is beautifully done; and Bryan Hiles as Pato, the most normal of the four, is utterly convincing. Greg King’s realistic set, as detailed as the direction, is suitably claustrophobic…go and see THE BEAUTY QUEEN OF LEENANE at the Baxter. You won’t experience anything quite like it, even if you know McDonagh’s movies”.
Nigel Vermaas
“… it’s clear why The Beauty Queen of Leenane has won so many accolades … the acting is simply brilliant”.
Debbie Hathway
“… An uncomfortable hilarious comedy about unbelievably fraught people made believable by a brilliant cast”.
Philip Todres
“… It’s intense … very funny, it’s raw, it’s REAL, it’s BRILLIANT … an excellent production”.
Margueritte van Wyk
“… a beautiful, powerful, deeply meaningful story and production.”
Josh Lindberg
“…completely blown away, I was… It’s dark, it’s funny…I was literally on the edge of my seat toward the end as I did not see the twist coming at all. Absolutely loved it”.
Karisa Nicholls, Cape Town My Love
The Beauty Queen Of Leenane Production Pictures
