The next couple of weeks will see a feast of theatrical performances upstairs in the Kildrought Lounge in Celbridge. Opening on Tuesday 14th October and running until Friday 17th October we will be performing “No Romance” by Nancy Harris. This is a sometimes hilarious, sometimes heartrendingly sad play. It tells three separate stories but they are thematically linked of people struggling with relationships, each hampered by their own problems. Nancy Harris, the playwright skillfully draws together the threads in these three stories in this captivating play.
A word to the wise though, it contains some adult themes and strong language and is therefore not suitable for children.
In the first story two former classmates Gail (Martina Murphy) and Laura (Tina O’Connor) meet after many years, each carrying her own secret. This story is directed by Orla Gildea. The second story tells of a married couple Carmel (Lorna Mooney) and Joe (Brendan O’Sullivan) who cut loose on one another at his mother’s funeral. This story is directed by Pete Butler. In the final story, Peg (Martina Blessing) relives an eventful life as her son Michael (Dave Foley) and grandson (Kyle Burke) arrive at her West Cork cottage to take her to a nursing home in Dublin. Direction in this story comes from Joe Bergin.
Our second week of drama brings a much lighter feel with three comedy pieces. Opening in Tuesday 21st October and running until Saturday 25th October it will feature our entry into the All Ireland One Act Drama Festival, “Buridan’s Ass” by S. R. Plant. Our journey will start on 17th October in Rush and will take us to Naas, Cavan, Mullagh, Prosperous and Goresbridge during the month of November.
Buridan’s Ass is a comedy of surreal dimensions set in a taxidermists laboratory where various dead animals calmly observe the mental turmoil of the taxidermist Mahone (Bill Elliffe) whose family have been stuffing animals for generations and whose business is now disintegrating. The final commission, that of a beloved badger is on route to failure. Mahone is assisted by the wonderfully resourceful Earnest Blades (Ken Byrne). Buridan’s Ass refers to a syndrome identified in the fourteenth century by French philosopher, Buridan, whose ass starved to death while being undecided on which of two bales of hay to eat first. Mahone is unable to make decisions of emotional import; he has Buridan’s Ass! Frank Houlihan directs this seldom seen comedy, first seen in Bewleys in 2008.
Wholly Idle Film and Theatre Group will also perform 2 one act plays: The Goon by Pete Malicki directed by Eoin O’Neill and Sure Thing by David Ives directed by Shóna King. These are both also comedy pieces which should combine with Buridan’s Ass to give a great night’s entertainment
Bookings can be made by phone or text to 087 710 9919