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Rosemary Drama Group received warm praise from adjudicator Tony Finnegan last night, night 5 of Newry Drama Festival, following their performance of Hansard by Simon Woods, which went ahead despite a last-minute cast change due to illness.
Mr Finnegan opened his adjudication by acknowledging the circumstances the group had faced, thanking Rosemary Drama Group for honouring the spirit of "The show must go on." He said the group deserved "a big thank you for bringing the show to the festival under such pressures."
He outlined the particular demands of the play itself, noting the challenges of a single-set production that requires actors of considerable ability and stamina. The piece moves from comic, witty exchanges through to moments of brutal emotional drama, and Mr Finnegan stressed that the political tensions of the period needed to be conveyed without tipping into historical re-enactment.
On the subject of the set, Mr Finnegan reminded the audience that its sparse appearance was intentional, in keeping with the script's requirements, and that the bareness of it served its purpose well.
Particular recognition went to Ian McDonald, who Mr Finnegan praised for taking on an extraordinary workload on the night. As well as being responsible for lighting, Ian had composed the music for the production and stepped in as the replacement actor on stage. Mr Finnegan described the music as "quite haunting" while noting that the sound balance could have been adjusted at times, being louder in some moments and softer in others. The costumes were also commended, with Mr Finnegan observing that attention had been paid to character detail, pointing specifically to Diana wearing shoes rather than slippers, which he noted was key to the role.
Turning to the performances, Mr Finnegan said Robin, played by Ian, showed very good projection and diction, though his accent slipped on occasion. He felt Ian showed "a great understanding of the dialogue and dealt with a very difficult situation so well," and again extended thanks to him for stepping in to ensure the play was performed.
Lindsay, in the role of Diana, was praised for strong work in the preset, giving the audience a clear sense of context from the outset. Mr Finnegan noted her "very good stage presence and projection and beautiful diction," adding that her accent was both convincing and consistent throughout. He also highlighted her ability to balance comedy with an undercurrent of pain visible from early in the performance.
Director Ian Lee was commended for his handling of the adaptation, with Mr Finnegan remarking that losing an actor requires careful planning. He noted there was no awkwardness in what was presented on stage, and that the audience could place full trust in the two performers.
The Newry Drama Festival continues at the Sean Hollywood Arts Centre, with audiences invited to come along and support the participating groups.
Tonight is the last night of the festival with Hugh Leonard's Da performed by Bunclody/ Kilmyshall group. Curtain up 7.30pm.
