John Patrick Shanley wrote “Moonstruck,” the Cher/Nicolas Cage Oscar winner, and the Pulitzer-winning “Doubt,” which became a Meryl Streep/Amy Adams/Philip Seymour Hoffman/Viola Davis movie. His new play “Outside Mullingar” opens next Thursday.
“My father’s from Ireland. Taking him back — Mullingar’s outside agrarian Westmeath County — I discovered the locals had a powerful gift of language. Minute I stepped on that farm and saw people who don’t speak like others, the place began to talk to me. You can’t write in a sterile environment. I knew someday I’d write about them . . . although it took me 20 years.
“They’re connected to the land, and it’s good to walk amid cattle and sheep. My cousin Anthony lives at the end of the quietest lane. To reproduce that kitchen, I brought over set designers, and he nearly had a nervous breakdown. Never saw so many people. I said, ‘Just make tea.’
“My ‘Anthony’ character’s introverted, tortured, reclusive. Life’s slipping away, but it’s never too late. He sets his cap for a middle-aged woman who’s never had love. So will they ever connect — or escape? It’s a romantic comedy.
“First scene takes place in the kitchen. I pictured it, then opened the door and let the people in. In my head, they were standing outdoors busting to get in and tell me something. And my female star Debra Messing? She tinted her brown hair red — and immediately became Irish.”
So where’s he keep his awards?
“I live in Williamsburg. I have a nook. But most are in a laundry bag. There are phases when I’m popular, then unpopular. You can’t respect accomplishments. In the ’70s, I started as the Manhattan Theatre Club house manager and out of the blue they commissioned this — and since I can’t stand owing anything — I sat down and wrote it.
“I thrive on deadlines. To write this took me five weeks — and my whole life.”
Just in case you are keeping track
Early 2014 Shakira’s releasing her first album since 2010 . . . Time Warner chairman Jeff Bewkes: “Nostalgia’s great. Like when your son goes off to college.” . . . Tom Ford creating four new fragrances: Plum Japonais, Shanghai Lily, Fleur de Chine, and something else. All Asian scents . . . Quote from Julia Louis-Dreyfus: “I added estrogen to ‘Seinfeld,’ ” whatever that means. . . Katy Perry has 49.5 million Twitterers?! . . . Yale Books is going spiritual. Publishing one called “God,” another “How the Bible Became Holy,” another called “The Ten Commandments.” Also “Christ Child,” “The Spirit of Mary” and “Sensational Religion.”
Shout-outs are in order
Thanks to Ed-in-Chief Richard David Story quoting my “Only in New York, kids” in his February Departures magazine . . . Focus Features screening Zac Efron’s newie “That Awkward Moment” next Tuesday . . . Hot for Sue Mengers? Author Brian Kellow for Viking’s looking for stories — in case you’re interested . . . Filmmaker David Lynch credits Transcendental Meditation for his “negativity and stress lifting.”
Standing at the curb on 51st and Fifth. Two guys. One: “You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren’t going to do anything productive for the rest of the day.”
Only in New York, kids, only in New York.