Review: PONDLING at 59E59 An Extraordinary One-Woman Performance

"Regrets are useless, wasteful things."

-Pondling

Pondling is making its United States Premiere on a limited engagement at 59E59 Theaters through October 4th. The play is written by Genevieve Hulme-Beaman who also stars as Madeline in this one-woman show. Directed by Paul Meade, the fast-moving play has a clever and unique premise, perfectly executed.

In Pondling, Madeline is a high-spirited, quirky young girl who lives on rural farm in Ireland. Her raven black dress shoes, fascination with French culture, a curious friendship with chickens and her longings for Johnno Boyle O'Connor are all a part of her life, heightened by a very fertile imagination. Ultimately expressive, she calls her clothing "farmyard chic" and distains Johnno's "stupid long-armed girlfriend." Pedaling about on her My Little Pony bicycle, Madeline's little world becomes very big as she wishes for glamour that is far beyond her years. It seems that her imaginings could be her complete undoing.

Genevieve Hulme-Beaman captures the role of Madeline with well-played impish and impulsive behavior. She moves through the show's many sequences without a pause. Her portrayal is humorous, at times frightening and always entertaining. Theatergoers will relish Pondling and Hulme-Beaman's performance.

The Creative Team has brought the play to life with lighting and set design by Colm McNally and sound design by Osgar Dukes and Denis Clohessy. The show's stage manager is Christine Lemme.

Pondling is presented by Guna Nua Theatre Company and Rambilinman. The play is part of Origin's 1st Irish Festival in New York City. For more information on the festival, visit http://1stirish.org/.

59E59 Theaters located at 59 East 49th Street (between Park and Madison Avenues), New York, NY. Tickets for Pondling are $25 ($17.50 for 59E59 Members). To purchase tickets, call Ticket Central at 212.279.4200 or visit www.59e59.org.

Photo Credit: Paul McCarthy