‘THE CHASTITUTE’ FOR GLANWORTH STAGE THIS WEEKEND

Given the appalling weather, the cast of ‘The Chastitute’ could have come up with any amount of excuses for not attending rehearsals.

In true ‘the show must go on’ fashion, the cast (a mix of youth and experience) rallied behind producer, Bernard Gallagher and at the time of going to press everything was in place for a fantastic two nights in Glanworth Community Centre this weekend.

This venue plays host to The Glanworth Players and their John B Keane classic on this Saturday and Sunday night – please note times (Saturday 16th January at 9pm) and (Sunday 17th January at 8.30pm).

The 3 act play represents the biggest challenge for the group, formed in 1999, since they performed the very successful ‘Highest House On The Mountain’ in 2003.

Speaking to The Avondhu this week, veteran of stage and screen, Bernard Gallagher said the cast had put in a huge effort and were looking forward to performing in front of big crowds at the weekend.

Founder members of The Glanworth Players, John Bermingham, Nelius O’Neill and John Ahern have leading roles and the play also benefits from the services of talented brothers, Tom and Aidan McGrath. Mary Mahon, John Gallagher, Susan Hanrahan and Yvonne Gubbins are other long standing members who feature prominently.

Producer Bernard Gallaher was fortunate to be able to sign up Mary O’Neill as stage manager and she has brought her considerable expertise to bear on the production.

Tomas Quirke is in charge of lighting and set design. Anxious to recruit some up and coming talent for the play Bernard brought on board Amy Murphy, who plays the part of Eva, and Kay Quirke.

As part of his recruitment drive, Bernard successfully enlisted the support of Marian O’Callaghan, Marian Casey and Joe Carey. Ian Murphy has the distinction of being the youngest member of the team.

Starved of social outings since before Christmas and with ‘Cabin Fever’ setting in, the people of Glanworth and surrounding areas are in the mood to be entertained and The Glanworth Players intend doing just that this weekend.

‘TOM, DICK & HARRY’ TO DRIVE AWAY THE WINTER BLUES IN TALLOW

Next week, from Thursday to Saturday nights (January 21 to 23), Brideview Drama helps everyone cope with the coldest winter in memory with a nice, toasty-warm, hot-action comedy, ‘Tom, Dick & Harry’ - a very funny and full-on farce suitable for all the family that will be enjoyed by everyone.

Very much full of slapstick, all sorts of misunderstandings, jokes of all kinds and frenzied comings and goings - the humour never lets up. Directed by David Murphy, the large cast has been working very hard to make the laughter and the action as madcap as possible.

Brideview Drama is very pleased to recognise the great local and community support the play is getting, especially from key sponsors Tallow Area Credit Union, Ted & Martha Keniry and other local businesses who are always so helpful with raffle prizes and all those extras needed to get a play off the ground.

Many thanks to The Brideview Bar, Daybreak, Tallow and Ford’s Centra, Tallow. ‘Tom, Dick and Harry’ is also on the last weekend of the month (January 28 to 30), the play starts at 8.15pm and there’s lots of yummy free refreshments.

Tallow Community Centre will be superheated (the actors guarantee it) and all are welcome! You can get tickets on the door, or book (between 11am and 5pm) by calling 058-56304.

MITCHELSTOWN YOUNG DRAMA RECOMMENCES

Mitchelstown Young Drama will start again on Tuesday next, Jan 19 at the Town Hall. Classes for 4-8 year olds from 4-5pm and for 9-14s from 5-6pm.

After the great success of ‘Mamma Mia’ last year, we hope to do our very own version of a ‘High School Musical’ this year by popular request.

All enquiries to Michael at 086-2523959. Please come along on the day (Tuesday next) for either the junior or senior class. All are welcome!

JON KENNY HITS KILWORTH ON FEBRUARY 6

If laughs have been scarce so far this year, you can change all that by spending an evening in the company of Jon Kenny when he pays a visit to The Village Arts Centre, Kilworth on Saturday night, February 6.

No one has a better handle on Irish life - our misfortunes, our good luck, our cuteness and our acceptance of what many other nations would never accept. He’ll probably don the jersey again for Glengooly and give the ‘Bally boys’ more than their fair share - but then, with Kenny’s sheer unpredictability, you can never be sure what road he’ll travel.

One thing we can be sure of though is that he will certainly make us laugh. Tickets go on sale this Thursday, priced €22.50 each at The Avondhu office, Fermoy (025-32227); Cotter’s Kilworth (27109 after 5pm), Hyland’s Bookshop Mitcelstown (24528) or 087-6492514.

‘BONDI BEACH BOY BLUE’ WILL STRIKE A CHORD WITH G.A.A. FOLLOWERS

For theatre lovers, Saturday, January 30 brings a play to the stage of Kilworth’s Village Arts Centre that has GAA stalwarts like Nickey Brennan, Eddie Keher, Brian Cody and others simply raving about it. It is titled ‘Bondi Beach Boy Blue’ and is written by Benny McDonnell.

‘Bondi Beach Boy Blue’ is about an injured hurler’s quest to rediscover a way back into sport. Declan is set to become a Kilkenny hurling great but injury cuts his career short.

Disillusioned, he needs a change of scene and a new direction in life. Armed with his passport Declan and friend Gary head for Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia. In a land of sun, fun, and a thousand friendly faces, 10,000 miles from home, with the Olympics coming, it is an exciting time.

Declan thinks that maybe he can start again, that a sporting life is not a fantasy, but doubts assail him - what if this ends in failure as well? This is Declan’s story - his relationship with his father, Gary - his best mate, his uncle Donie and the women in his life - Lisa and Emma.

The story of the set of problems he ran away from in Ireland and what he ran into in Australia. It’s not only six time All-Ireland winner and 1969 winning Kilkenny captain, Eddie Keher (‘brilliant, absolutely brilliant’) who has been singing the play’s praises.

Brian Cody, the Kilkenny senior hurling team manager said the show is ‘hugely enjoyable, thought provoking, interesting, touching, and very, very real’. More info/tickets - 025-32227 or 087-6492514.

ALL SEATS SOLD FOR JOHN SPILLANE

Will it be good or what? Well it certainly looks like it will as all tickets are sold for the opening concert of 2010 at The Village Arts Centre, Kilworth on Sunday, January 24.

If you haven’t a ticket secured at this point, it may be worth having your name on the cancellation list - call 025-32227 for details.

We can expect to hear lots of songs from the Gaelic Hit Factory and there are sure to be lots of requests for songs such as ‘The Dunne’s Stores’ Girl’, ‘Ballincollig Castle’ and ‘Johnny Don’t Go’ etc. Spillane’s ‘So Far So Good, Like’ CD entered the charts in May last year and was EMI Music Ireland’s third biggest selling album on the week following its release!

The album featured 2 brand new songs ‘Passage West’ and ‘Lovers Leap’ which he ‘tried out’ on his last visit to Kilworth twelve months ago. Further details etc from The Avondhu office, Fermoy (025-32227) or on 087-6492514.