Compántas Lir’s fantastic production of the three-act comedy Professor Tim will have a two-night run in Galway’s Town Hall Theatre on Sunday April 21st and Monday April 22nd.
This is the third time that the Claregalway-Carnmore group will perform on what is acknowledged to be the best stage in the west of Ireland.
The play by George Shields has been picking up awards across the country for the past month on the All-Ireland drama circuit and was a great hit when it played to a packed house at the Claregalway Festival of Drama last month.
However, the good news for locals who missed out on that performance is that tickets are now on sale at the Town Hall Box office at €12 each.
The directorial debut of Malachy Noone was rightly honoured and acknowledged at the Claregalway Festival of Drama and at many other festivals around the country and his dedication and attention to details was evident as the play picked up acting, set, costume and stage crew awards.
This year was always going to be tougher than others because many groups were performing the plays they had been rehearsing last year when the foot and mouth crisis forced the cancellation of the circuit, but Compántas Lir once again resisted the temptation to put winning above entertainment and once again have staged a new play as they have done for all of the 20 years of their existence.
Their excellence has made the name of Claregalway synonymous with good drama and the group are greeted with enthusiasm wherever they go around the country.
Starring the hugely talented and experienced Philip Cribbin in the title role, the play tells the story of two families who come together to arrange a match for a daughter Peggy (played with aplomb by Triona Dunleavy).
Her parents played by Fidelma O’Rourke and Paddy Greaney play the archetypal domineering wife and hen-pecked husband, while the debonaire Vincent Moran is once again the dashing hero.
The second family is played by Mike Hession as a Councillor, revelling in his acting role after years of directorial success at the All-Irelands; Mary Booth resplendent in furs; and Padraig O’Connell as the gombeen son. Simon Kavanagh is also excellent as the local Auctioneer.
However, the stars of the show are Evelyn Casserly and Eddie Fitzgerald who have brought down the houses on the circuit with Evelyn’s impromptu stripping act, encouraged by the bould Eddie.
The set for the show has been designed by Regis Golding. Tony Broderick, John Brennan, John Whelan and newcomer to the group Remi Duga, who is on work experience from France in Geraghtys’.
Makeup and costumes are overseen by Ann Moran, Síle Mannion and Bernadette Prendergast, while the stage crew of Kevin Duffy, Declan Varley, Seamus McNulty and Patsy Cahalan is led by Carmel Kenny. Lighting is by Francis and Adrian Moran, while sound is by Thomas Maguire.
Tickets for Professor Tim are available from the Town Hall Theatre at (091) 569777.
