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Another conflict that builds is whether Anthony\u2019s dad, Tony (Jim Chovick) should sell his farm to his nephew, or if he should give his son the land.<\/p>\n
All three performers in \u201cOutside Mullingar\u201d hail from different San Diego neighborhoods. Schmitz lives in Morena, Chovick is a Mission Valley resident and the English-born Dinning currently calls Bankers Hill home.<\/p>\n
For about 15 years, Dinning was a tour guide around the UK and Ireland for an American high school educational company, so she is very familiar with Mullingar.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a rest stop between Dublin and Limerick,\u201d she said. \u201cI associate Mullingar with toilets.\u201d<\/p>\n
Before opening night, Dinning shared stories about her experiences in Ireland to give the cast more appreciation for the country.<\/p>\n
Shanley\u2019s authentic dialogue requires performers to speak with believable Irish accents. As the dialect coach, Dinning aids the performers with saying each line as correctly as possible.<\/p>\n
Teaching an Irish accent to others hasn\u2019t been an issue for Dinning, as she\u2019s taught it to others many times in the past.<\/p>\n
\u201cDialect work isn\u2019t about being perfect,\u201d she said. \u201cThe purpose is to use it to help tell the story and help your role.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dinning\u2019s co-star Chovick isn\u2019t a stranger to adopting an accent. Last summer, he acted as an Irish monsignor in Moonlight Stage Productions version of the musical, \u201cSister Act.\u201d<\/p>\n Chovick is open to visiting Ireland in the future.<\/p>\n \u201cI would be more informed if I decide to go,\u201d he said. \u201cThat\u2019s the great thing about being an actor.\u201d<\/p>\n He plays the important role of the judgmental and death-obsessed Tony. While he might not always treat his son with respect, Tony\u2019s sense of humor and growth as a person make him a likable parent.<\/p>\n One aspect that attracted Chovick to the production was the opportunity to work again with Moonlight\u2019s former artistic director, Kathy Brombacher.<\/p>\n \u201cI love collaborating with her,\u201d he said. \u201cI trust her and she has pretty hard standards.\u201d<\/p>\n After \u201cOutside Mullingar\u201d closes on Feb. 18, director Brombacher\u2019s version will leave the Scripps Ranch Theatre and find a new home at the Brooks Theatre, with performances starting on Feb. 23.<\/p>\n When Dinning lived in the UK, she often toured different cities.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s how artists in that part of the world make their living,\u201d she said. \u201cWe\u2019re getting three days of tech in Oceanside, which is a luxury compared to the short amount of time in other theaters.\u201d<\/p>\n Though Dinning might be used to this process, this is the first time Chovick has been involved in a show that transfers to a different theater.<\/p>\n Yet he doesn\u2019t anticipate the move being a hard adjustment.<\/p>\n \u201cThe set is different, but that\u2019s not an issue for the ensemble,\u201d he said. \u201cThat\u2019s something for the crew to focus on.\u201d<\/p>\n The box office for \u201cOutside Mullingar\u201d has been strong so far, and Chovick notes theatergoers appear emotionally invested in the central plot.<\/p>\n In a similar fashion to Chovick, Dinning loves Shanley\u2019s script and empathy for the characters.<\/p>\n \u201cI really like that his writing has such heart and makes us feel good about ourselves,\u201d she said. \u201cHis script is very joyful.\u201d<\/p>\n Regardless of where you see \u201cOutside Mullingar,\u201d Dinning and Chovick\u2019s performances, Brombacher\u2019s moving storytelling, and Shanley\u2019s wit are only a few of the reasons why the unconventional comedy is well worth the visit. Shanley’s plot is also timely for romantics who want to celebrate an early or belated Valentine’s Day.<\/p>\n \u201cOutside Mullingar\u201d runs through Feb. 18 at the Scripps Ranch Theatre and plays at the Brooks Theatre Feb. 23 through March 11.<\/p>\n![\"Finding](\"https:\/\/sduptownnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/MulingaHigh-4-1.jpg\")
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\u201cI\u2019ve done enough theater to know when people are truly a part of the play,\u201d he said. \u201cAudiences have been laughing a lot and really care about the main couple.\u201d<\/p>\n