The Mai by Marina Carr

What lies beneath the surface is bound to catch up with you (The Curse of Fate personified in a play) Come what Mai.

A love story that explores four generations of women. Centred on forty-year-old, The Mai, the play explores how passion and tragedy interweave her family’s life as she struggles to save her marriage.

Following the past years success of ‘Death of A Salesman’ and ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ this popular Bray drama society is delighted to bring the work of renowned Irish Playwright Marina Carr to life with her gripping drama ‘The Mai’. Marie McCourt directs an exceptional cast in this thoroughly Irish story with universal themes.

It is the story of four generations of women, their loves and losses, their hopes and dreams, and the cruelty of reality. Marie is delighted to have an incredibly talented cast of eight women and one man along with the support of an amazing creative design and production team. The Mai is a beautiful and accomplished 40-year-old woman whose musician husband walked out on her after 17 years of marriage. She builds a dream home for him and sits by the window waiting for his return.

The story is told through the eyes of Millie at age 16 and 30 who is one of four children of Robert and The Mai. Colourful characters include The Mai's 100-year-old Grandmother who “was married to the 9 fingered fisherman” and whose father was "The Sultan of Spain” and constantly repeats the story of her nine fingered fisherman husband because "people never tire of great love stories".

Two sisters of The Mai (Connie and Beck) battle constant interference into their lives by two aunties who are members of the "Connemara Clique". You will recognise most of the characters as members of your own family and may even see yourself.

Director Marie remarks: “I’ve been a great admirer of the work of Marina Carr since 1997 when I was cast as Julie in ‘The Mai’ and subsequently appeared in productions of her other works ‘By the Bog of Cats’ and ‘Portia Coughlan’. I chose this play because of the rich language; finely drawn characters and the many challenges the production presents. It is funny, romantic, and tragic.”