‘THE CHASTITUTE’ PACKS THEM IN IN GLANWORTH

Glanworth Players were delighted with the public’s response to their production of John B Keane’s ‘The Chastitute’.

Producer, Bernard Gallagher was worried more than most in the run up to the big show, however, he need not have fretted as his all-star cast turned in a series of great performances before packed houses.

Some of the play’s dialogue is a little on the coarse side with plenty of less than flattering (not to mention politically incorrect) references to womanhood and fertility matters.

For all this ‘The Chastitute’ does give an insight in the moral and psychological pressures that were brought to bear on men and women during the middle of the 20th century as they attempted to form relationships.

John Bosco McClaine (John Berminghan) was to the forefront of this production from start to finish and it’s to be expected that his performance is held up to scrutiny. Given the demands this role placed on him, John, up to now a solid journeyman actor, did an excellent job and with the necessary fine tuning, it’s not unrealistic to think he could move up yet another level.

Ultimately amateur drama is about the sum of the parts and ‘team Glanworth’ came good for this very entertaining show.

The audience, a cross section of society, gave performers every encouragement and readily entered into the spirit of the play.

Well done Glanworth Players!

NEW DRAMA GROUP FOR RATHCORMAC

Having met in December, Rathcormac Community Council is delighted to announce the formation of a new drama group in the parish, namely the Shanowen Players. The new group are aptly named after the river that runs within yards of the hall and rehearsal facilities.

In the recent past numerous light entertainment shows have been produced and a three act play was produced a number of years ago by Cathal O’Keeney. It is greatly hoped by the community council that the formation of this new group will bring drama to the people of Rathcormac, Bartlemy and surrounding areas for many years to come.

The debut three act play chosen is John B Keane’s classic comedy ‘Many Young Men Of Twenty’. This play set in the sixties deals with the subject of emigration, the political system and people’s attitudes to their neighbours’ situations.

The play, having a large cast has allowed the producer to utilise the huge talent available in both Rathcormac and Bartlemy.

Well-known characters that have tread the boards for many years include John Arnold, Frances O’Riordan, Valerie O’Leary and Frank Buckley. Talented newcomers to the three act scene include Carol Marie Dooley, who takes on the formidable task of portraying the iconic Peg Finnerty while Eamon O’Neill tackles the hugely comic role of Danger Mulaly.

Others pioneering the Shanowen Players are Emmett Sweeney, John Power, Margaret Howard, Kathleen O’Regan, Stephen O’Leary and Bill Gubbins. As a treat to patrons, our local county councillor, Pa O’Driscoll will make his debut appearance.

This cast, allied to the wit and comedy of John B Keane, are sure to have audiences rolling in the aisles.

The producer the community council has chosen to herald this project is the hugely experienced Donal Howard. Donal, who was the sole founder of the Barrymore Players in Castlelyons in 1997, has the background, knowledge and skill to make the Shanowen Players a huge success.

Rehearsals are at an advanced stage at the moment and the dates proposed by the group are set for March 12th and 14th and 19th and 21st. Four nights of ‘fun and frolics’ are guaranteed.

Hope to see you all on the banks of the Shanowen river in March.

‘LETTER FROM AMERICA’ RETURNS TO KILWORTH

The very popular ‘Letter From America’ from the pen of Liam Howard returns to The Village Arts Centre, Kilworth for another run on Friday, February 19 with a few changes from the original run in November.

On this occasion, the part of Uncle Denis, so well played by Dermot Rohan, will be taken by Liam Howard due to Dermot not being able to commit to this run and subsequently the festival run in March.

Those who have already seen the play will be interested to note also that the first act has been given an additional 8 or 9 minutes dialogue, bringing ‘Uncle Denis’ back into the action.

The play was extremely well received when it was staged last November with many people coming back to see it a second time.

‘Letter From America’, based loosely on a true story, is set in 1957 as the Harrington family anticipate the return of their long lost brother.

Thirty years earlier, not very many years after the Civil War, Jimmy Harrington left home following a domestic dispute with his father. His departure in 1927 left the family in bewilderment, Jimmy’s father flatly refusing to discuss the cause of his leaving. Jimmy’s whereabouts were unknown, but thirty years after his leaving, his brother Thady receives a letter from him.

As the play opens, Jimmy’s father is gravely ill. His brother Thady, sister Mary, step-mother Maggie, his uncle Denis and nephew Kevin await his return. We also meet his aunt Ellen.

The play will now be directed by Jim Baylor and the cast is made up as follows: Kate Murphy (Mary), John Murphy (Thady), Alison Lewis (Maggie), Liam Howard (Uncle Denis), Colm Ahern (Kevin), Sean Ahern (Jimmy) and Ber O’Sullivan (Aunt Ellen).

‘TOM, DICK & HARRY’ GOES DOWN A TREAT IN TALLOW

- This Thursday’s performance unavoidably cancelled -

Due to a sudden and very unfortunate family loss for some of the cast of Brideview Drama’s show in Tallow, ‘Tom Dick & Harry’, this Thursday night’s performance is cancelled.

However, the shows planned for this Friday and Saturday nights will go ahead as scheduled (Jan 29 and 30) at 8.15pm.

With pretty much full houses so far, and rave reviews around West Waterford and North Cork, the drama group is very pleased they have been able to help so many people of so many ages lift the winter blues with a good straight dose of loud and uncomplicated laughter.

The director, David Murphy has done himself proud, having put together a smooth, silly and increasingly bruised troupe of actors in this hi-energy, very physical comedy.

Will Motherway and Sean Tobin are the leads, and are keeping all the other actors very much on their toes through all the twists, turns, ups and downs of an outrageous plot.

Audrey Sheehan, Martin Sheehan, Mary Curley, John and Tomas Roche, Emer Martin and James Hyde have been leaping, joking, falling and dancing fit to burst!

Backstage too, there has been much hard labour and effort to keep what happens on stage perfect, with all the machinery and wires always invisible! Sarah Allen is a fabulous asset to the group, as is Anne Gough who is rapidly going hoarse from trying to shout and whisper cues at the same time!

Frances Tobin is a dab hand with a makeup brush, while Shane Roche and Matthew Kavanagh are proving themselves most useful teenagers, running all the light and sound effects. The show is fun, dumb, silly and a great night out.

Suitable for all the family, tickets are available on the door, or call 058-56304 between 11am and 5pm. The hall is well heated and the show includes free refreshments.

SOLAS - TOP US TRAD BAND FOR KILWORTH

Over the next week or so, Solas - described as ‘the first truly great Irish band to arise from America’, will undertake a short tour here in Ireland and you can see the band in action on next Wednesday night, Feb 3 at The Village Arts Centre in Kilworth.

The securing of a date with this band has been seen as a major coup for music promoter John Nyhan and for Kilworth venue.

Solas has been loudly proclaimed as the most popular, influential, and exciting Celtic band to ever emerge from the United States and, in the words of John Nyhan himself, are equalled only in status by Altan.

The Philadelphia Inquirer said ‘they make mind-blowing Irish folk music - maybe the world’s best’ so, need we say more? Tickets (€20) from The Avondhu office, Fermoy (025-32227), Cotter’s Kilworth (27109), Hyland’s, Mitchelstown (24528), from John 087-7921771 or 087-6492514.

CONNA D.S. TO STAGE THE EVERGREEN ‘SIVE’

‘Sive’ comes back to Conna after 51 years. Frank Power was the director at that time, the play was a huge success and is still talked about with great affection. Rehearsals are well under way for the next production in February.

Over the last few years we have invited guests to our group, this year we have Catriona Howard, Rathcormac who plays Sive, Thomas Power, Rathcormac (Carthalawn), Patrick Smyth, Knockanore (Liam Scuab) and Paddy Ahern, Ballynoe (Pats Bocock).

The rest of this very good cast include Niamh MacAuley as Mena. Anne Barry as Nana Glavin. Peter Barry as Mike Glavin. Liam Hannigan as Thomasheen Sean Rua and John Leahy as Sean Dota. Direction is under the baton of Assumpta Mangan.

Performance dates are as follows: February 13th, 14th, 19th, 20th and 21st. Cheese and wine on Valentine’s night and with six festivals secured this year, it’s all systems go!

‘OF MICE AND MEN’ FOR BALLYDUFF

Ballyduff Drama Group’s performance of the John Steinbeck classic, ‘Of Mice And Men’ takes to the boards in a couple of weeks before heading off on the festival circuit around the country.

The tale about two drifters in early depression-era California was originally in novel form but was adapted for the stage by Steinbeck himself, with the original version starring Broderick Crawford.

It is a tale that has been also adapted for the screen on a number of occasions, most recently in a 1992 film starring John Malkovich.

But these are not any ordinary drifters. Because these two drifters are together – they are a pair - and, together, they have a dream. They have plans, well laid plans and well recited plans. They know where they are going. But then, so did many before them – and they never got there. But these are different.

Because these are Lennie and George, played by Courtney Canning and John Stack, one guy who ‘ain’t so bright but is strong as a bull’ and the other a true and trusted friend. They, surely, will make it.

Add to this a support cast of the likes of Brendan Dunlea, Kevin McCormack, Richie Walsh, Pat Sheehan, Brid Verling, Brendan Hurley, Eoghan Geary and Mike Dunne and you have one whole bundle of stage experience in one arena.

Merely one female name among the troupe, and it is little surprise that this one creature smelling of roses and temptation should be the siren who spells the pair’s biggest trouble.

This is, unsurprisingly, a tale of broken dreams, of shattered lives. There is something almost classically tragic in its telling – the inevitability of the fall, the disaster of the outcome. But within all this – there is hope, there is spirit and there is humour.

Sure – the heartstrings are pulled and our compassion is sought out. But there is also laughter and a whole heap of humanity. We all have visions of the future – the dreams that keep us going.

Sometimes these dreams are fulfilled or even partially so. This is life and achievement. This is arrival.

Sometimes, however, as Robbie Burns said: “The best laid plans o’ mice an’ men gang aft agley ….”

Directed by Geraldine Canning, the play opens in Ballyduff on Thursday, 19th February and runs for three nights initially. Keep an eye for further press advertising over the coming weeks.

SEE GORDON & ROSIE WITH BEPPE GAMBETTA THIS MONDAY

The best of bluegrass, country and folk music will fill The Village Arts Centre in Kilworth on Monday night next (Feb 1) when Beppe Gambetta pays a very welcome return visit.

Guesting on the night will be that very versatile duo, Gordon and Rosie so a very entertaining evening is in store. Beppe Gambetta has performed in prestigious venues like the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

In his career he has performed with some great heroes of the folk and bluegrass scene like David Grisman, Gene Parsons, Doc Watson, Norman Blake, Dan Crary, Tony McManus.

From his unique roots developing as an Italian musician in love with both American country and bluegrass as well as the music of his native country, Beppe Gambetta has ten CDs, four DVDs and four teaching books to his credit. Tickets are being kept at a very modest €15, so book now from John Nyhan on 087-7921771, from 087-6492514 or from the usual Arts Centre outlets.

‘THE MAGIC FLUTE’ - FRIDAY MORNING TREAT FOR FERMOY!

If you have time on your hands this Friday morning, you could definitely do worse than to take in the Opera 2000 production of Mozart’s ‘The Magic Flute’ being staged in association with Cork Opera House at the Fermoy Community Youth Centre.

There are two Friday morning performances - 10.30am and 12.45pm. Just look at the array of talent in the line up: Mary Hegarty, Nyle Wolfe, Richard Wiegold, Liz Ryan, Blake Fisher and Edele Shannon!

Would you really want to miss it?

“Wonderfully accessible, visually stunning and extremely satisfying”!

Book by phone: 021-4270022.