Sally Wingert (left) and Amber Bjork in Theatre Pro Rata/Park Square Theatre’s production of The Beauty Queen of Leenane. Photo credit by Charles Gorrill.

Some reviews of less-known plays start with a synopsis of the work. Doing so for The Beauty Queen of Leenane (now playing at Park Square Theatre) would be counterproductive to theatergoers, since the best part of seeing this play is wondering who is actually telling the truth and what is really going on. Suffice it to say that this black comedy of a piece is set in rural Ireland and staged with brutal realism by director Carin Bratlie Wethern. It certainly fits with the mandate for gutsy programming in Theatre Pro Rata’s mission statement.

The main narrative hinges on Maureen (Amber Bjork)’s relationship with her very cranky and aged mother Mag (Sally Wingert); Ray (Taylor Evans) and Pato (Grant Henderson) flit in and out of frame. Coming after several distinguished performances last season, Wingert’s portrayal is one for the memory books – this is really good stuff, and sometimes a little close to home amidst the laughter. As Maureen, Bjork gives a performance layered with numerous shades of grey. Either depiction done just a little off could be tiring, but with their dynamic the first and second halves pass very quickly.

Five points to Gryffindor for the period kitchen put together by set designer Andrea Heilman.

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Basil Considine

Basil Considine was the Editor of the Twin Cities Arts Reader from 2018-2022. He served as Performing Arts Editor and Senior Classical Music and Drama Critic for the Arts Reader's first five years, before succeeding Hanne Appelbaum. He was previously the Resident Classical Music and Drama Critic at the Twin Cities Daily Planet and remains an occasional contributing writer for The Boston Musical Intelligencer and The Chattanoogan. He holds a PhD in Music and Drama from Boston University, an MTS in Sacred Music from the BU School of Theology, and a BA in Music and Theatre from the University of San Diego.

Basil was named one of Musical America's 30 Professionals of the Year in 2017. He was previously the Regional Governor for the National Opera Association's North Central Region and the 2021-2022 U.S. Fulbright Faculty Scholar to Madagascar.

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