A Kilcullen Diary: 'Lovers' resumes tonight

A Kilcullen Diary: 'Lovers' resumes tonight: The whole thing about Brian Friel's 'Lovers' is that it is two distinct stories, writes Brian Byrne . Both about love, but at ...

Lovers Winners : Losers by Brian Friel

                                           
                                               Lovers
                            Winners : Losers        by Brian Friel

Kilcullen Drama Group's production of two short complementary plays will be staged on the following nights In Kilcullen Town Hall

Friday 5th April @ 7.30pm      Gala Opening Night
Saturday 6th April @ 8pm
Wednesday 10th to Saturday 13th @ 8pm 

Tickets from Bernard Berney's Chemist 045 481497

The first play, the lovers are a young couple preparing for their final exams and their imminent wedding. The girl is pregnant.  Although they promise each other happiness, their deaths by drowning  save them from a more likely destiny.

In the second play, the lovers are older, but their passion, at first, is no less real.  It is their marriage that brings its share of compromises and unhappiness. 

Brian Friel was born in Omagh, Co. Tyrone in 1929.  His is well known for his writings of "Philadelphia Here I come", "Faith Healer", "Aristocrats" and "Translations".

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