Doing justice to Maeve Binchy’s final novel
DRUNKEN weekend leading to pregnancy, as well as cancer and alcoholism, are just some of the themes in the late Maeve Binchy’s final novel, Minding Frankie, which has been adapted for the stage. It may sound like a recipe for a distinctly depressing play but the story has Binchy’s trademark humanity, wisdom and humour.
This “heartbreaking” drama is about Noel Lynch (Steve Blount) who is struggling with alcoholism when he gets a call from the terminally ill Stella (who dies within five minutes of the play). She claims to be carrying his child. A baby girl named Frankie is born. Noel must raise her but social worker, Moira Tierney (Clare Barrett) thinks the child would be better off with foster parents, given Noel’s drink problem.
