Once A Catholic by Mary O'Malley
ONCE A CATHOLIC, by Irish playwright Mary O'Malley is a famous comedy that has been widely performed throughout the English speaking world.
The play is being presented by DRAMA WITH A DIFFERENCE - one of Australia's most established, independent drama schools. With a twenty year history, the school is the launching pad of many successful Australian actors. It holds a range of classes for all ages and all levels. The performers are adults and teenagers from the school's recreational classes, and the directors have a strong background in professional theatre. Therefore, the production is of a semi-professional nature.
The play is a satire about Catholicism, and Catholics themselves have always flocked to see this particular play. However, its appeal extends to anyone from any religion, to agnostics and the non-believers! This is because ONCE A CATHOLIC is about much more than religion.
The play is set in a Catholic Convent School for girls in 1957. Three girls - all by the name of "Mary" - are growing up and experiencing hormonal changes that include an interest in boys. The girls begin to ask questions of the "faith" that they've grown up with; trying to ascertain what is real and what is not. They ask questions of the authority figures in their lives.
These authority figures are a series of nutty (and sometimes nasty) nuns, who don't always offer real explanations to the questions asked by the teenagers.
There is also a Catholic priest, whose love of Lord is as evident as his love of liquor. There's an eccentric music teacher and a number of hormonal teenage boys, including one from the Church of England.
This is a biting satire of religion in general, but it is good - hearted, and mostly light humour.
The show is suitable for anyone aged 13 to 113. However, this might depend on your own approach to life! There is some strong language in the play, along with scenes that depict sexual exploration between adolescents. Discretion is therefore advised.
Feedback/Comments
An unlikely script.
Lots of fun. Loads of entertainment.
Terrific!
Interesting play but a bit of an amateurish production.
v entertaining but bit long tho
We left at half time - it was far too long.
Very good
Loooong!
Cosy production, maybe too many scenes changes but fun
Very slow with too many scene changes
Good acting but it went too long unfortunately. Brought up some good themes.
Very entertaining. Laughed a lot! Thank you.
An interesting and quite entertraining play. Would certainly recommend
Very entertaining. Loved the combination of 50's music with the sketches. Well acted.
Very Entertaining. it brought up lots of memories
Very entertaining and the cast were all amazing! This is a must-see production.
A little drawn out but entertaining, none the less
Best show I have seen in a long time, each scene had a great story line and the skills of the actors was outstanding, had a lot of laughs along the way
Some lovely laugh out loud moments and a stellar performance by all cast but especially Mother Basil. Quirky theatre,small and intimate. Greatly enjoyed.
Entertaining. Too long. As an elapsed Catholic there should have been way more laughs!
Some of the acting was good. The subject matter was interesting but it is a long play. Having said that, I'm glad I went.
...A cosy production which projected well the hypocrisy of the church....
thank you!
Very entertaining. Presents well the 50's dogma of the catholic teachings.
I enjoyed the acting, but I was disappointed with the script.
Fun show