Pic: Rose Rushe
WHAT would the McCourt men make of ‘Angela’s Ashes – The Musical’? Opening in Lime Tree Theatre on July 6 into July 15, it prompted Limerick Post to get on to writer Malachy McCourt. He is Frank’s little brother.
Based in New York, this octogenarian has a big spirit, a big well of stories and a big jolly frame. His use of the English language is polished precision, with plenty of wellington.
“I would say that my first reaction was open mouthed astonishment.” Pause. “My jaw drops right to the middle of my belly button that someone could see such a thing.” He muses on what other iconic work could be put into song: “Schindler’s List? Hamlet?”
Call to mind that University of Derby’s first iteration of the show was a student production written for many parts. Lime Tree pioneered it here for City of Culture 2014 with the support of Frank’s widow, Ellen.
Una Heaton, founder of the Frank McCourt Museum, flew her staff over to Derby at her expense to see the original by Howell & Hurt. She was so impressed, she saw to a financial contribution to its subsequent arrival in Limerick.
June 2017 and on to the US:
“I saw it in Limerick a couple of years ago,” Malachy McCourt says. “I understand that they [producer Pat Moylan and team] have been working on it and it is much improved. You want to come out of a musical humming and I did not find much in it that was hummable”.
He makes the point that until he sees this altogether new production, he is robbed of opinion. With his wife of 52 years, Diana – “we’re getting used to each other” – he plans to see it in Bord Ghais Theatre.
The raconteur looks back on the city that inspired his brother’s Pulitzer win. What comes across is that they were outsiders, the returning Yanks and dirt poor. As small children they adapted to survive, and some McCourts did not. Changing the way the kids spoke was priority, leading to:
“What fascinates me is the Limerick way of expressing. It’s quite unique, I think. Anyhow some conversations I have heard in Limerick are couched in Elizabethan, almost Shakespearean terms”.
He recalls the warning of ‘gardez-l’eau’ [pronounced loo] that dour Mrs Collins used to shout as she emptied basins of dirty water on the street.
Another day while wrestling, they rolled in her open door. Little Malachy was bottom of the scrap and the one caught. She roared: “The way ye come crashing through my parlour again, I’ll be smashing ye’er countenances”.
Thus he hopes the musical will hark unto local phrasing to ring true. “I never heard anyone speak like that except in Limerick”.
With memoirs and stories out himself, Malachy remembers this town for “a lovely innate compassion and kindness in the Limerick soul” – more evident in people who did not have much.
He brought Richard Harris to Roden Lane where the McCourts lived, and Barrack Hill. “Jesus,” despaired Harris, “I never knew these places existed.”
How could he? “His was an Ennis Road family. I showed him the outside latrine where Frank got typhoid.”
Ah well, such rare oul’ times are set to music and song now in the 21st century. Book your place at www.limetreetheatre.ie for this year’s ‘Angela’s Ashes – The Musical’ world premier.
