Festival to tickle funny bones

THERE should be laughs galore at the 55th North Cork Drama Festival, which opens at the Community Hall in Charleville tomorrow night and continues until March 31.

Several of the nine plays are comedies which are having a big impact on the amateur festival circuit.

Festival director Elizabeth O’Gorman said there will be an exciting programme of plays, which Charleville parish priest Canon Sean Cotter will officially open tomorrow night.

The opening play will be a production of Deirdre Kinahan’s Attaboy Mr Synge by Doonbeg Drama Group from Co Clare, with Newmarket Drama Group performing John B Keane’s Moll on Saturday.

Skibbereen Theatre Society will present The Memory of Water by Shelagh Stephenson on Sunday night while Monday night’s play, Bitter Sanctuary by Rose Mary Ann Sissov, will be staged by Zyber Thetre Company from Tralee.

Anvil Players, Bruff, Co Limerick, will stage The Rainmaker by N Richard Nash on Tuesday night, while Wednesday sees Kilmeen Drama Group perform The Loves of Cass McGuire by Brian Friel.

Ennis Players will travel to Charleville on Thursday night of next week with The Way You Look Tonight by Niall Williams, with Haulbowline Theatre Group presenting Naked by Luigi Pirandello on Friday.

Corofin Drama Society from Clare will stage the final of the festival productions on March 31, after which adjudicator Patsy Croal will announce the results.