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Newry Drama Festival came to a close at the weekend with Nine nights of top quality drama produced by Amateur Dramatic Societies from Waterford to Bangor and everywhere in between. Despite the drama outside with the "winter" weather, nightly audiences were treated to an extremely varied selection of plays.
The later stage of the Festival saw Blood Brothers, Taking Sides, God of Carnage and Dancing at Lughnasa.
Willy Russell's play Blood Brothers was performed by the Holywood Players. The play told the story of twin brothers Mickey and Eddie who were separated at birth and had quite different upbringings, one the working class lad who's family struggles to make ends meet and the other growing up in an affluent household with the family not in want of anything.
The story plays on the real and perceived differences in their lives as viewed by Mickey, the working class lad played by Cathan Hardy. Eddie played by Phelan Hardy on the other hand finds it difficult to comprehend that they are really that different at all and so the story develops. Geoffrey O'Keefe, Adjudicator felt that the final scene with the two brothers was "really well realised and the attack between them was really heartfelt with so much energy and truth and passion" although he did think a little more time should have been spent on the final moments of the play.
God of Carnage by Yasmina Reza was performed by the Bart Players, Belfast and was an extremely enjoyable mellow comedy. The play catalogues the conversation between two sets of parents one of whom's son hits the other one leaving him with a certain amount of dental work needed let us say.
Michael Vallon played by Kevin Murray and his wife Veronique played by Joanne Hughes and Alain Reille played by Con McAllister and his wife Annette, Sandra Ardill had certainly an entertaining night when they sat down to discuss the events from quite separate perspectives, with a "sick' scene shall we say being nominated by the Adjudicator for his Best Moment of Theatre.
He also complimented the entertaining characterisations but would have liked a "greater variety of stage pictures"
County Waterford based Ballyduff Drama Group gave a really strong version of Brian Friel's Dancing at Lughnasa on the final night with a stage set that was nothing short of spectacular. The kitchen scene with the range and Sacred Heart Picture forming the focal point with an outside set complete with overgrown greenery on the sheds and walls. The play telling the tale of five sisters from Donegal is narrated by Michael who was played exceptionally by Courtney Canning.
Commenting on the final play of the Festival the Adjudicator complimented the "Beautifully realised setting" and "Striking visually interesting stage pictures and evocative atmosphere"
An extremely entertaining play to bring to an end the nine nights of dramatic delights. Results to follow...
