Outside Mullingar delves into recognizable Irish themes while keeping a universal touch that travels across different demographics.
It could be Ériu, the Great Famine, intergenerational stewardship, or a combination of all of them, but Irish people are strongly connected to their land. For Tony Reilly (Armin Shimerman), the farm needs to stay with someone who can work and love the land in the traditional way, the Irish way. The problem is, his son Anthony Reilly (Michael Kirby) doesn’t seem to have what it takes to care for the farm once Anthony is gone.
Older and single, Anthony seems destined for a different trajectory, at least in the eyes of his father. It doesn’t help the fact that their land doesn’t have an exit to the road—Tony lost it to a debt with his neighbor, now in possession of the daughter Rosemary (Liza Seneca), who is also single. Anthony and Rosemary’s parents are old, so what will be of them and their respective farms once their parents are no longer around?
John Patrick Shanley uses the character Tony as an evocative stance in Irish memory. Tony’s concerns about the farm’s future are so intense that he is willing to sell it to his relatives in America instead of giving it to his own son. To understand this concept, we need to remember the turmoil that characterized Irish history in the late 19th century. The potato blight, hunger, the British land system, cruel evictions, and agrarian agitation resulted in the passing of the 1923 Land Act, which reinforced the claims of the Irish people to their land. For Tony, the farm is history; it represents the sacrality of the soil in the context of Irish identity.
But the play goes beyond the concept of land. It touches on family dynamics and the universal theme of love, which brings lightness and comedy to the play, allowing the characters to interact playfully with each other. Anthony’s ridiculous claim at the end of the play, although surprising and confusing, is used cleverly by Director Matthew Leavitt and the actors to create an amusing dose of comedy to close the play.
The four actors are delightful. Shimerman and Muldoon have been performing this play for quite some time, nailing their performance with ease. Seneca and Kirby offer a refreshing take on the couple who surrender gracefully to destiny. Leavitt’s direction is also a highlight in this production. The subtle positioning of the actors around the stage gives prominence to the text in critical moments where the dialogue requires special attention. The stage design (Mark Mendelson), lighting design (Justin Huen), and sound design by the quintessential Christopher Moscatiello create a naturalistic vibe that goes well with the script and the general concept of the play.
This is a play where family legacies and silent longings merge to create a world in which the characters will have to either resist or give in to the forces of nature.
Outside Mullingar
Sierra Madre Playhouse
87 West Sierra Madre Boulevard
Sierra Madre, CA 91024
October 2-25, 2026
Tickets: sierramadreplayhouse.org
Written by John Patrick Shanley. Directed by Matthew Leavitt. Presented by Sierra Madre Playhouse in conjunction with The 6th Act.
Cast: Armin Shimerman (Tony Reilly), Kitty Swink (Aoife Muldoon), Liza Seneca (Rosemary Muldoon), Michael Kirby (Anthony Reilly).
Creative team: Costume Design: Caitlin Cisek, Stage Manager: Brian Semel, Scenic Designer: Mark Mendelson, Lighting Design: Justin Huen, Sound Design: Christopher Moscatiello, Property Master/Set Dressing: Megan Trapani, Dialect Coach: Keri Safran.
