By Conor O’Neill
I never get sick of interviewing Belfast’s Caroline Curran, so bubbly, enthusiastic and hopeful, it’s enough to see a saved man sick. In these six minutes of chat you’ll pick up all you need to know on playing Maggie Muff, relearning lines, the brutality and the sentiment of letting a role go for a while.
Interested? Read on.
So Caroline, how are rehearsals going?
“The rehearsals were brilliant. We open tomorrow night and I haven’t done that show in over four years but it was great, just like putting on an old pair of shoes. It was like going back to the start and doing it over and over again.
“It’s been four years, and a lot has happened plus we’re living in a pandemic as well. So, I’ve done other shows in between. It just takes a lot of free learning and going by the video from the first and being able to watch back to where I was standing or when I was in a place I didn’t feel right, it was something to go back to when Andrea Montgomery, the director said, it didn’t feel right’, and I would have to relearn a position or place.”
And are you ready for tomorrow night
“Yep. They’re in today getting the set and all up and I’m obviously love getting in there and we’ll hopefully have a big audience in and with the times that we’re living in it’s just nice to see an audience who are into the show again, hopefully the crowd and ourselves will be able to enjoy.”
And what do you think of the Grand Opera House’s make-over?
“I had only been in it two weeks ago, but they took me on a tour. Obviously I couldn’t be on stage as there was Covid-19 restrictions but the new lay-out with the front of house is brilliant. There’s no middle aisle anymore and it’s all seated so it looks amazing. I didn’t see the stage but I went on the virtual tour so I’m definitely looking to setting up home for two weeks.”
And what can you see when you’re onstage? First few rows, maybe less?
“Well I can see the first few rows, maybe going on to the first 15 believe it or not. I can always see the orchestra pit and the rows quite up close to me and a few people up in the boxes, other than that I can’t see too much.”
Has writer Leesa Harker made any updates considering the past two years?
“The script and the story is still the same but it has been edited. Things have been taken out and made the script a bit tighter. You only learn that as you’re the next time round; things you want to see, things you don’t. The storyline is the same but just been edited.”
Caroline, will you ever tire of playing Maggie Muff?
“No. But this will be the last time, the last hooray. It’s been nine years since I’ve been playing this character which is unreal. I think Leesa has other plans going forward, either with this character or other things that she has on the go. But, I’m not tired of playing Maggie Muff because I’ve saw so many people enjoying the character so much; it’s one of those things you don’t get tired of, but I think it’s one of those things when you think Leesa has other things to do, and I’m just so glad to have played her for so long.”
And, finally, is the run at Belfast’s Grand Opera House start of a nationwide tour?
“No, it’s just at the Grand Opera House and that’s it. It’s just great that people are coming back every year and we’re running for two weeks until February 5, 2022. It’s a good run for anyone who hasn’t saw it. People who were too young to see it a few years ago are now old enough. My best friend is bringing her daughter who is now 18-years-old and hopefully the amazing followers Maggie has will see a new audience.”
Caroline Curran Stars in Maggies Feg Run in Belfast’s Grand Opera House from January 24 – February 5, 2022.
For booking details visit http://www.goh.co.uk or phone the box office on 02890 241919
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ENDS
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