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Newry Drama Festival continued last night with Antrim's Slemish Players performing George Shiels 'The Passing Day'. In his opening remarks adjudicator Gerry Stembridge said “that it was a pleasure to be given an opportunity to see the play as it was rarely performed nowadays”. He recalled Ray McAnally playing the leading role in the Peacock theatre in Dublin many years ago. The presentation in terms of the set was “ one of glorious destruction reeking of a life closing in on a person - a piece of art in itself”
Stenbridge congratulated Alex Morris and his team. However an aspect of the overall presentation troubled him. Apart from the main set, the settings for all other scenes were “very minimalist creating a division of style that conflicted with the natural grammar of the play”. He pointed specifically to The Lawyer’s Office, The Hotel and The Hospital . This, Mr Stenbridge commented, was problematic in the overall presentation. He felt that the director needed to choose one style of presentation.
The lighting was complex and well executed although he noted that the light was brighter in the spaces where the window wasn’t, therefore creating a lack of evenness.
Unlike last night, when Stembridge had issues with accents, he remarked that in this play “ the accent’s brought a sense of utter authenticity- they were beautiful to listen to”. He said, “ There is nothing more joyous than the accents in a play spoken as the playwright intended”.
He praised the director John Dobbin for his casting. The cast were physically and vocally very well created. Mr Stembridge applauded the cameo roles. Joe O’Neill gave “a gorgeous performance “ as the gravedigger Looney, Dominic Donnelly portrayed the “slimy Mr Black very well”, and Niall Greer presented “a very polished and beautifully quaffed Daw the solicitor”.
He also noted that the main cast executed their roles very effectively. Peter Fibbs, played by Hugh Dobbin, reflected the “ general stiffness “ of the character and possessed “ a great voice for such a young actor”. Mrs Phibb’s character benefited from good directorial work. The main character John Fibbs, played by Andy Spiers was not a tall man but was a “ midfield general” in his role.
Mr Stenbridge gave a final “troubled note re. the direction of action”. He felt that he was looking for “a lot more stillness”. The characters were allowed to move around too much which he felt compromised the intensity of some of the scenes.
Mr Stenbridge concluded by thanking the company for letting him see and hear the play in the way the playwright had intended it to be, nearly 90 years later.
Tonight Clarence Players present ‘ Gaslight’ by Patrick Hamilton.
Tickets are available online or from the Town Hall from 7pm tomorrow (Wednesday) evening- Curtain up at 7:30 pm.
