MARY McEvoy, making headlines at The Gaeity with Limerick’s Jon Kenny in ‘The Matchmaker’, comes to Lime Tree this Friday for a double shift of ‘Fruitcake’. Written and directed by Alice Barry, Arts page reminds McEvoy that she was interviewed for this same show five years ago. She laughs.
“‘Fruitcake’ has never really left off, it’s the kind of show that people ask for from time to time.
“Now with ‘The Matchmaker’ and with Alice’s new show, ‘The Woman Who Shot Mussolini’ prominent, it is coming around again. ‘Fruitcake’ is about a lady called Della – we don’t know where and it doesn’t matter – who comes in and gives a demonstration that is ostensibly about baking.
“But more and more, it is clear that she is coming to talk about her life which has been very dramatic and original. There is a lot of suspense to her story and some grief”.
All the time, Della Doran is mixing up a fruitcake as we the audience become mesmerised by the movement of her floury, can-do hands.
Mary McEvoy attributes the play’s continuing success to the power of Alice Barry as playwright: “What I love about her writing is that she philosophises well. Alice is a brilliant writer”.
Della reflects on a life “that would floor most people but she is happy and joyful”. Far from being fruitcake, her sanity has governed choice and she has gone on to live fully.
Playing this insurgent baker is demanding, being on stage for an hour of non-stop verbals – “another thing about Alice is that she is extremely articulate” – whilst baking cakes and drawing us in on the intrigue.
The challenge of ‘Fruitcake’ presents for a matinée at 2.30pm and again at 8pm this Friday 29. www.limetreetheatre.ie.
Mary McEvoy’s book ‘Ordinary Beauty’ has been released in paper back this year by Hachette, a series of meditations that have helped her cope with episodes of depression throughout her life.
