Dancing at Lughnasa

Ballybeg, County Donegal, Ireland. During the summer of 1936, the five Mundy sisters welcome home their mentally and physically frail elder brother, returning from a life as a missionary in Africa. Love briefly seems possible for some of them, but their world and family are rapidly being changed and challenged as summer, dreams and hopes fade away. As the now-grown Michael shares the story of his mother and her sisters, the women join together to celebrate the Celtic harvest festival of Lughnasa and allow themselves one last joyous dance before reaping their bitter harvest. Vivid, layered characters and language combine in this elegant and rueful memory play that is widely regarded as Brian Friel’s masterpiece, and his tribute to the spirit and valor of the past.