Photos by Pat Shortall
Kilquan Players have just completed a wonderful comedy in Coon Hall and those who attended can confirm that it was a great nights entertainment.
Written by Sam Cree and directed by Benny Mills, the show was a laugh a minute.
Bert Cooper and Harold Smileyare in a hospital ward together when their peace is shattered as Sammy McCracken and Felix Devlin are admitted following an accident at the Leinster final, leading to much unrest. Add to this the hospital staff of the Ward sister , nurse Freda and nurse Holmes, eccentric hospital visitor Miss Cherry, distressed visitor Phyliss and her tank like brother Mad McGurk plus Martha Cooper and Berts bit on the side Dolores and you have all the makings of an hilarious comedy.
Kilquan are an amatuer drama group, established 32 year ago and this years offering is up there with the best.
Author Samuel Raymond Cree(1928–1980) was a Northern Irish playwright. During the 1960s and 1970s he wrote several long running and popular plays for comedians James Young and Jimmy Logan. His plays remain a favourite with Northern Ireland audiences and amateur companies.
Today Cree’s plays are popular amongst Amateur Drama companies in Northern Ireland due to their simple humour, recognisable characters and because of the appeal to audiences of all ages.
Speaking with The Observer , Benny Mills said he was delighted with the cast and crew of the production.
“New and established members have come together and rehearsed this play and their hard work has really paid of” said Benny.
This is Mr Mills sixth year with Kilquan and if all the work that he puts into a production is anything to go by, then it has all the appearances of a labour of love.
“The success of this show is down to cast and crew working as a team”, continued Benny, who went on to say that the laughter and happiness shown by the audience meant so much.And what, we asked Benny, was the reason for packed houses every night? “Quite simply , coming to the show is a great escape from the dreariness of bad weather and bad news” continued Benny.
Cast included: Martin Murphy, Paddy Doheny, Eimear Donohue, Ann Tunstead, John Ryan, Tom Murphy, Martin Curran, Maria Purcell, Teresa Healy, Clare Ryan, Jamie Holohan, Brian Fitzpatrick, Benny Mills, Maisie Mills.
Production team: Director : Benny Mills. Front of house: Willie Lawler, Rhian Lawler. Prompters: Stasia Murphy, Helen Ryan, Vivienne Law. Backstage Bernard Keogh, Mike Tunstead. Stage Carpenter : Joe Doheny, Paddy Doheny. Sound and Lights: John Fitzpatrick, Patrick Healy. M.C: Mike Tunstead. Refreshments Coon ladies committee.
