Hidden Tipperary

A new comedy stage play, “When Are You Going Back”, will get it’s first public showing in Upperchurch next weekend, with performances on Friday 18th and Saturday 19th at 8.00 pm each night. The play was written by American Gerry Britt, whose ancestors came from Drombane, and will be performed by the local ‘Upland Players’.

Cast and crew of the comedy “When Are You Going Back” which will be staged next weekend in Upperchurch. Back Row: (L. to R.) Jim Ryan, Willie Shanahan, Joanne Ryan, Paddy Bourke, Eileen Ryan, Joe O’Dwyer, Paraic Fahey. Middle Row: Teresa Corbett, Jodie Kennedy, Sinead O’Dwyer. Front Row: Billy Clancy, Mary Harrington.

The story describes the adventures of a naive American tourist who arrives in Upperchurch to trace his roots. The main local centre of activity, Fogarty’s pub, is run by two sisters. The husband of one of them is somewhat under pressure running the business and things get very difficult following visits from the ‘Tax Man’ and a ‘Smoking Inspector’ who are both trying to close the pub. The American is unwittingly caught up in the crisis. An array of local characters and customers with locally familiar traits contribute to the whole confusion.

While the play is primarily a comedy it is interesting to see the whole local pub culture and aspects of rural life through the eyes of a visitor. The problems facing country pubs at present are also adequately demonstrated.

Production Crew
Directors – Mary Harrington and Kae Ryan (The Mill); Producer – Mairead Clancy; Set Design – Joe Clancy and P.J. Harrington; Lights – Jack Looby and Thomas Fogarty.

Cast
Bobby Ryan (the American tourist) – Jim Ryan (Glown); Brian Maher (the local man) – Billy Clancy; Paul Shanahan (horse trainer) – Ged Kelleher; Nora (his girlfriend) – Jodie Kennedy; Seanie Fogarty (the publican) – Willie Shanahan; Maureen (his wife) – Joanne Ryan; Kathleen Shanahan (her sister) – Teresa Hyland Corbett; Eamon Kenny (Revenue Sheriff ) – Joe O’Dwyer; Joan Clancy (the smoking inspector) – Eileen Ryan, (Glown); Paudie Dooley (local genealogist) – Richard Ryan, (Ballyboy); Peg (his wife) – Nonie Clancy; Second American tourist – Gerry Britt; Pub customers – Pakie Purcell, Brian Harty, Nora Ryan, Sinead O’Dwyer, Paddy Bourke, together with local musicians.

Multi award winning Thurles Musical Society (TMS) will stage the well known and popular hit musical ‘Evita’ in The Premier Hall, here in Thurles from Tuesday March 15th – Saturday March 19th inclusive.

A sixty strong cast has been in rehearsals since early in January, under the watchful eye of Director David Hennessy, Musical Director Mary Rose McNally, Choreographer Debbie Kieran, and Dance Captain Michelle O’Connell. All cast members are set for the stage with great excitement abounding in advance of the opening night, which will be a benefit night for the Thurles Presentation Secondary School’s current Astro Turf project.

Musical Composers & Principle Cast Membership
This hit musical ” was composed and written by the renowned duo, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice and audiences will recognize instantly the hit songs such as ‘Don’t Cry for me Argentina’, ‘Another Suitcase in Another Hall’ and ‘Where Do We Go From Here’ and many more.

‘Evita’ tells the story of Eva Duarte, an ambitious young girl from a modest background, who hypnotized the nation of Argentina in the 1930s/40s. Seen by some as a hugely inspirational lady and for others, a woman to be feared and despised; she worked tirelessly against the rich and middle classes, attempting to destroy them. Eva was much famed throughout the world for her beauty and style. This reputation was matched only by this infamous woman’s pettiness and her endless lust for power. Through carefully planned relationships and a disregard for the opinions of others, she quickly rose in social ranks to become Argentina’s ‘First Lady’. This story translates easily to a powerful retelling, through beautiful music and truly gripping drama on stage.

Ché, a character based on the revolutionary Ché Guevara, will be played by Michael McLoughlin, who returns to the stage with TMS having played the lead role in Jekyll and Hyde among many other leading parts. Barry Derby will amuse audiences in the role of ‘Magaldi’, a musician who aids fifteen-year-old Eva on her search for fame. (‘On This Night of a Thousand Stars’ is his big number).

Peron is played by the award winning Cathal O’Donoghue who won ‘Best Comedian’ in last years ‘AIMS Awards’, while the vastly experienced and equally decorated Cathy Keane will plays the lead role of Evita. The relationship between protagonist, Eva, and political leader, Juan Peron, was scandalous, questionable, dynamic and romantic – an aspect that is easily achieved by this Thurles pair, who coincidently also played opposite each other in Tipperary Musical Society’s ‘High Society’ just a few years ago.

Kate Lineen plays the part of the ‘Mistress’ while Eva’s family members are played by no strangers to successful theatre; Olwyn Grogan, Linda Ryan, Frank Tuohy, Danielle Martin and Marie Therese Kirby.

The ‘Generals’ featuring in Peron’s army are played by the well known and experienced members; John Scott, Noel Dundon, Frank Tuohy, Finbarr Shelly and Gerard O’Hagan.

As ‘Evita’ requires a chorus that represents a nation, the cast will comprise both adults and children and our magnificent kids have been working hard to ensure readiness for ‘Opening Night’. Younger members are drawn from schools from the parish and surrounding areas and are understandably very excited about ‘Evita’.

The Booking Office in Hickey’s Pharmacy, Liberty Square, Thurles opens from Tuesday March 8th right through the running of the this production. Tickets cost €20 with concessions for OAPS on Wednesday at €10. All tickets for the Tuesday evening performance also cost €20. The show commences at 8:15pm. You may of course Telephone: 085-2868726 to book your seat.

Don’t miss this chance to see a magnificent piece of International Musical Theatre performed locally here on your own doorstep.