Drama Festival in full swing

"Powerful, gut wrenching theatre that will stay with me for a very long time" were the words of Newry Drama Festival's Adjudicator Geoffrey O'Keefe as he gave his thoughts on last nights Mercury Fur performance from Silken Thomas Players.

Kildare based Silken Thomas are just one of the wide selection of Drama groups performing at this years Festival which, with five performances over has just reached past the half way stage with Blood Brothers from Holywood Players tonight; Taking Sides from The Clarence Players tomorrow night; God of Carnage from Bart Players on Friday night and Dancing at Lughnasa from Ballyduff Drama Group bringing the festival to a close on Saturday night.

Philip Ridley's Mercury Fur was set in a derelict flat in London where two brothers staged 'parties' that clients could pay to realise their wildest fantasies. It was difficult but compelling viewing with raw language and sadistic violence being the order of the day.

The Acting was impressive though and Naz who just happened to be a neighbour in the squat was played exceptionally by James Murphy as a happy go lucky chap with a difficult past. Brothers Elliott and Darren played by Conor O'Connell and Colin Malone certainly had more than their fair share of issues and challenges as well.

A lot of the action was suggestive rather than visual with the audience only able to guess how 'Party Piece' played by Martin Barber was being 'prepared' for the client and later frantic loud screams coming from an adjoining room leaving you in no doubt that this was no ordinary party.

Overall a very un-nerving performance and certainly not the kind of party you would want to find yourself at!

Ron Hutchinson's Moonlight and Magnolias performed on Friday night by Bangor Drama Club was certainly a lot lighter on the audience. Film Mogul David O'Selznick has shut down production of Gone With The Wind and he has taken on a couple of assistants to rewrite the entire production in five days - not a problem ...

The play is based in a single room in an office the participants are locked into until they come up with the goods. Ben Hect played by Sean Greer and Vic Fleming played by Tim Campbell are kept to the grindstone by David played by Michael Ievers who keeps them fed with peanuts and bananas so no wonder things get increasingly jungle like. Adjudicator Geoffrey O'Keefe commented on the play's great comic touch's but did suggest that vocal clarity was lost a few times with the Actors accents.

Newry's own Newpoint Players presented Rozencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead on Monday night, a play that concentrated on the musings and interactions of Rozencrantz and Guildenstern two minor characters from Hamlet. Guildenstern played by Michael Murphy and his sidekick played by Killian Foy were exceptional in their performance and their musings were the centrepiece of the play while other characters came and left. Comic moments included the 'death' of one of the Tragedians who still managed to get a last gasp out of his flute as he passed away.

The Adjudicator complimented the lighting crew of Russell Kane, Sarah Smith, Tom McGeown and Paul McParland on their exceptional use of lighting on the set as well as their magnificent set design which although minimalistic for most of the performance included a very impresive ship towards the plays completion.

Tickets are still available on the door from 7.30pm for the rest of the weeks performances with curtains up at 8pm.