Maeve Binchy's Minding Frankie, Viking Theatre

Maeve Binchy was, and still is, a household name; a writer who could take the everyday, and with wit and a light touch, delve deep into the lives and psyche of people all over the country through a compelling and entertaining story. A very much beloved Irish writer who was a joy to listen to being interviewed, and sold many, many books the world over. Some of her books have been adapted into films (Circle of Friends, The Lilac Bus). With Minding Frankie, it is the first time a book has been adapted directly for the stage. 

Shay Linehan has taken charge of the adaptation, with two actors playing primarily Noel Lynch (Steve Blount), who is struggling with an alcohol addiction and gets a call from Stella, they met at a festival, who informs him she is having their child, and Moira Tierney (Clare Barrett), the case worker looking after Stella, who is dying from cancer - the child will live after the birth, but Stella will not -  and Moira believes a family would be better, leaving Noel to prove that he can be father to Frankie.

Linehan captures the gentle, quiet confidence of Binchy's writing and characters, although the Binchy wit and wry lines are not as obvious here. Against the set of large, blue boxes with letters off the alphabet on them, reminding us of children's blocks, it is all played out, at all times reminding us of the child involved. In some ways, the adults need growing up as well, each harbouring their own past experiences that colour the present. While the first half moved along well, it did fail to light up, coming over very understated, something that did show better in the second act. Here the emotions connected well, helped by some very good interactions between Blount and Barrett, particularly at the supermarket.

Blount brings an easy going, everyman style to it, and mines the comedy very well, his Italian waiter a wonderful example, while his 'drunk on the streets of Dublin' is initially amusing, but with it comes the awfulness of the scenario, something director Peter Sheridan brings to such moments - being plastered and falling down into a puddle late at night in the streets is not something that is amusing. Barrett's strong and fiery Tierney is well balanced beside Blount, and she too shows her comedy chops in the number of cameo parts that crop up. In these character parts the two really shine. 

There is a subtleness in the story, touching on social issues in the Binchey way, and with Sheridan at the helm, the focus is character and story. Nothing is cluttered and the idea to not see Frankie at all is excellent (no 'dolls in place of baby' used here), but with the set making up cupboards, wardrobes, chairs and tables, Frankie is front and centre - the main character.

The Viking Theatre have been bringing new writing to their wonderful intimate theatre for a number of years, and this is a wonderful addition to their cannon. It is a charming play that doesn't out stay its welcome and for fans of Binchey - of which there are many - it will be perfect.