Kilcullen Drama Group AGM

The AGM of the Kilcullen Drama Group will take place on Thursday January 10 2013 At 8pm in the Town Hall Theatre Kilcullen.

Review of Les Miserables in the Leinster Leader

Leinster Leader, Tuesday April17th 2012

KILCULLEN is the moral centre of drama in Kildare this week with its production of Victor Hugo's Les Miserables, writes Lisa Deeney.

It's not just a play but a heart and soul production by the Kilcullen Drama Society. Tlirou.ghotit the audience were awed by the goodness crusade, the redemption trial of Jean Valjean (Donagh Noone), saddened by the wretchedness of the poor, shocked by the unforgiving pride of Javert (John CoIeman) and others, and entertained by the cruel Thenardiers.

'Les Miserables’ is an 1862 French novel by author Victor Hugo and is widely considered one of the greatest novels of the 19th century. It follows the lives and interactions of several French characters over a 17- year period in the early 19th century. The novel focuses on the struggles of ex-convict Jean Valjean and his experience of redemption. It examines the nature of law and grace and expatiates upon the history of France, politics, moral philosophy, antimonarchism, justice, religion, and the types and nature of romantic and familial love.

With the story so familiar, the cast in the Kilcullen Drama Society had their work cut out to make a distinctive mark, indeed some fight better than others at the musical barricades scene! And last Friday night directed by the hard- working Mischa Fekete, they proved their worth.

The story of Les Mis is one which you cannot help but fall in love with, and with such an emotionally intelligent cast on stage it merely heightened the audience's empathy with the characters. The first solo went to the very reverend Bishop Monseigneur Myriel (John Martin) his strong but quiet voice and unforgiving demeanour set the tone.

The metaphysical struggle between the former convict Jean Valjean (Donagh Noone) and the pursuing policeman Javert (John Coleman) was a very real and dramatic one. Throughout their time on stage together it was often tricky not to side with both of these men. One fighting for justice (admittedly an unfair one in the audience's eyes); the other fighting for his freedom, and the wellbeing of others around him.

Charlene Kilroy as Fantine was perhaps one of the best at telling her story, a shatteringly beautiful and emotionally wrought performance; and one in which her simplicity on stage, with just the occasional glance to the side or a meaningful and perhaps frightened glare to the audience; highlighted the pain she was clearly feeling. Pain too was to be found in other areas of this production, and none more so than in Eponine's (Orna Whyte) hidden love for Marius (Jack Scullion). But Marius and Cosette (Mary Kiely) was a great love story, their chemistry on stage together was quite palpable.

Some much needed light relief in Les Mis comes from the Thenardiers, and what light relief it was too. The sheer energy that Bernard Berney and Siobhan Murphy brought to these two roles would be enough to power the whole of Kildare for a month, and their charisma when interacting with other characters was second to one. These two created many wonderfully camp, hilarious and confident moments.

And death. The audience were gripped at Fantine's death, Valjean was there holding her hand and watching over her, promising that Cosette would be safe; at his own death, Cosette, Fantine, Marius, all the cast holding his hands, consoling and guiding him as he slipped away, this heightened the sense of, completion as the story neared its end, and also added to the importance Valjean’s character, and what he had achieved during his life.

The finale was huge, bringing together all those who had died, survived, battled, fought and wrestled with morality itself, and provided a memorable ending.

From a technical perspective, this play was pot an easy one, with lighting, sound, design and direction, never mind an enormous barricade; Much praise to the hardworking director Mischa Fekete and Tara Mücke", who made the whole thing look easy. All the hats and hair pieces off to the  costumes Philomena Droney, with a cast of over 30 it was no mean feat.  

The Kilcullen Drama Society is a driving force, the best seats in Kildare (comfy Volvo car seats kindly donated by Dunlea's Garage some years back!) This was a great theatre adaptation that sent me straight to Naas Library for a copy of the novel. It's running from 13th to the 21stApril. Nightly performances @8pm sharp. Ring 045-481497 for tickets but do book early to avoid disappointment.

Les Miserables - Review in Kilcullen Blog

From Brian Byrne's Kilcullen Blog http://kilcullenbridge.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, April 17, 2012


 Les Miserables: powerful execution of a grand ambition Just having more than 30 people on stage in the Town Hall Theatre is a big enough challenge in itself, writes Brian Byrne. But then having to carry the massive Victor Hugo story set in pre-revolutionary France in just two hours? A crazy endeavour for an amateur group, but a gamble which had the potential to achieve grand ambition and great execution.

 Kilcullen Drama Group's spring play presentation of 'Les Miserables' is a big juggle of characters, storylines, mood and time. It requires a level of dexterity in direction arguably higher than has ever before been attempted by the group. A dexterity which a big man has displayed in truly magnificent measure. Mischa Fekete has managed to draw together from his disparate cast and Hugo's melee of characters a production which will take a proud place in the annals of a drama group which has been around since the 1930s.

 And it is a wonderful thing to see so many generations of Kilcullen Drama Group all in one production, from the stalwarts of Dick Dunphy, Bernard Berney and Nessa Dunlea to the promising newcomers of Jack Scullion and Mary Kiely. It seems only a few years ago that there was real concern about the eldering profile of the group, but now its membership encompasses all ages and interests and a future for amateur drama here seems assured.

I have no intention of critiquing individual actors or retelling the story of this play. Suffice to say there is drama, pathos, despair, hope, humour and passion, all performed to very high standard. There's also a great lesson in how to use a relatively small theatre space to its absolute maximum. There are performances left to see this week, and I urge anybody with an interest in good stories well told on stage to go along and see for themselves. I guarantee you will come away not just satisfied, but uplifted.

And if Victor Hugo himself could come back to see it, he'd be the one leading the standing ovation for Kilcullen Drama Group's telling of his grand story.

Les Miserables Rehearsal pictures

Les Miserables Poster

A Kilcullen Diary: Drama group plans 'Les Mis'

Packing a major novel, spanning 18 years and many characters in early nineteenth century France onto an hour and half of stagecraft is no easy task, writes Brian Byrne.

But that's just what Kilcullen Drama Group will be doing for their next production, due for performance in April. The play is 'Les Miserables', the stage adaptation (not the musical) of Victor Hugo's novel.

Mischa Fekete is taking up the challenge of directing the play, which is a big shift instyle of production for the group, now under the leadership of John Coleman for 2012 following the recent AGM of the company.

The main thread is the story of ex-convict, Jean Valjean who becomes a force for good in the world, but cannot escape his dark past. The tale ends with the June Rebellion, or the Paris Uprising of 1832, an unsuccessful, anti-monarchist insurrection of Parisian Republicans, largely students.

The first stage version was written just one year after Hugo published the novel, in 1863. It was written by his son, Charles, and a colleague Paul Meurice. The Kilcullen version is an adaptation devised by American writer Tim Kelly (left), who died in 1998. It has a cast of 30, that itself a challenge for the Kilcullen Drama Group.

The play opens on Friday 20 April, the Gala Night, and runs to Sunday 29 April. It will include two matinee showings on Sunday 22 April and Sunday 29 April.

Above was published on the Kilcullen Diary http://kilcullenbridge.blogspot.com/  a blog maintained by Brian Byrne

Next Production

Our next production which will be the play version of Les Miserables from the novel by Victor Hugo and adapted for the stage by Tim Kelly.
This production will be ready to run nightly from Friday 20th April, Gala Night to Sunday 29th April which will include two matinee showings on Sunday 22nd April and Sunday 29th April. This will be a
large undertaking by the group of over 30 members, which will be
steered by the creative director Micha Fekete.

Annual General Meeting

Kilcullen Drama Group held it's AGM on Thursday 12th January and the following Officers and Commitee were elected:

• Chairperson John Coleman
• Secretary Evelyn O'Sullivan
• Treasurer Nessa Dunlea
• PRO Sabina Reddy

Committee
Eilish Phillips, Philomena Breslin, Siobhan Phillips, Siobhan Murphy, Dick Dunphy, Esther Reddy.

There was a large attendance a new constitution was passed by the members.

AGM

The AGM of the Kilcullen Drama Group will he held in the Town Hall Theatre Kilcullen, this Thursday January 12 2012 @ 8pm.