REVIEW: Love and legacy in ‘Outside Mullingar’
David Rosenberg as Anthony Reilly and Allison Altman as Rosemary Muldoon in Outside Mullingar at the Stonington Opera House. Photo courtesy of Stonington Opera House.
June 19, 2026
By Marilyn Eckberg
Inspired by a visit to his family's ancestral farm and the language of his relatives, John Patrick Shanley’s "Outside Mullingar” is a moving portrait of neighboring families in rural Ireland.
Now on stage at the Stonington Opera House, the heartfelt play is beautifully directed by Kathryn Markey and brought to life by a talented cast and Clifton Chadick's striking set design.
The first act introduces the audience to two quirky farming families: The Reillys, a poor father and son, and the Muldoons, a well-off mother and daughter. Facing their mortality, aging Tony Reilly, played by Douglas Rees, and Aoife Muldoon, played by June Ballinger, gossip, laugh and trade barbs around the kitchen table as they spar over a long-simmering land feud. The rapid fire dialogue is by turns sad, hilarious, poetic and insightful.
Douglas Rees plays Tony Reilly in “Outside Mullingar” at the Stonington Opera House. Photo courtesy of Stonington Opera House.
Tony's son Anthony Reilly, played by David Rosenberg, is hardworking and painfully shy. He works tirelessly on the cattle farm but his future is uncertain. If he has any dreams beyond the land, they are half formed. By contrast, Aoife’s daughter, Rosemary, played by Allison Altman, is a spitfire. Nearing middle age, she knows exactly what she wants—and she has the patience and determination required to get just that.
Throughout, Oscar-winning Shanley entertains as he blends wit and tenderness in a story about inheritance, family legacy and unrequited love.
"Outside Mullingar” runs through June 28 and Opera House Arts is determined to make plays accessible. Admission is free for Hancock County students and half-price for students from outside the county. The performance on June 24 is "pay what you can."
For more information, please visit https://operahousearts.org/outside-mullingar/