Tuesday 21st – Saturday 25th February @ 8pm.
TrueWest Theatre present ‘Mary Motorhead’ by Mark O’Halloran. Directed by Rae Visser.

After it’s sold-out and critically acclaimed run at Bewleys Café Theatre in Dublin, Galway based theatre company ‘TrueWest’ are delighted to present ‘Mary Motorhead’ by the award-winning writer Mark O’Halloran (Garage, Adam and Paul), starring Cora Fenton.

Using specially commissioned film, sound and music alongside Mark’s wonderfully poetic script and a passionate and studied performance from Cora Fenton, ‘Mary Motorhead’ will captivate and entertain its audience.

Mary ‘Motorhead’ is in prison. She lies on her bed reading, while scenes of the outdoor world as seen from the window of a car are projected onto the wall behind her. She is doing six years for stabbing her husband, Red, in the head with a knife.

History is invention, she tells us, a story made up based on sometimes scant knowledge of the available facts. Each of us has a known history and a secret one. The secret history, she explains, is what really happened – what was going on inside – something that regular history, or reportage, or maybe representation, can never really know. So, Mary invites us to hear her secret history, and in hearing it, we might understand why she stabbed her husband in the head.

“Delivered with precision and conviction by Cora Fenton” – Harvey O Kane, Irish Theatre Magazine.

“Mary Motorhead is a solidly observed tragic-comic monologue performed well and telling a good, realist story” – Harvey O Kane, ITM.

“This play nourished my soul” – Kevin McAleer, The View, RTE

“What about Cora Fenton? Wow!” – John Kelly, The View, RTE.

Ticket Prices: €12, Conc. €10

Flying Pigs Productions presents Mrs. Bob Cratchit’s Wild Christmas Binge, Cork Arts Theatre, November 30th – 10th December 2011. She’s Back And Bolder Than Ever!

MOTHER NATURE threw everything she had at Mrs Bob Cratchit in the ice storms last winter and still couldn’t take her out!  Directed by Tess Healy Maguire and produced by Flying Pigs Productions, Christopher Durang’s hit play Mrs. Bob Cratchit’s Wild Christmas Binge returns on Wednesday, November 30th, and will run nightly through Saturday, December 10th, at the Cork Arts Theatre.  Mrs. Bob Cratchit’s Wild Christmas Binge is a playful, skewed look at the Dickens classic Christmas tale where miser Ebenezer Scrooge learns the true meaning of Christmas.  In Durang’s version, the quietly suffering sainted Mrs. Bob Cratchit has been given one foundling too many and is determined to drown her sorrows then herself by leaping off the London Bridge.

Mrs. Bob Cratchit’s Wild Christmas Binge starts out with the familiar tale of Ebenezer Scrooge’s visit from a Ghost.  From there, things start to go awry.  The Ghost’s magic is off.  Instead of the fateful hourly visits, Scrooge and the Ghost, pop in and out of time and place.  They end up haunting the beleaguered Mrs Cratchit who is now convinced they are voices in her head.

Mrs. Bob Cratchit’s Wild Christmas Binge peers behind the image of the poor-but-happy Cratchit family to reveal that Bob is really a bit of a nitwit and Tiny Tim is too good to be true.  The Ghost has a taser to help her tame the wayward Scrooge but he seems to be falling for the newly liberated Mrs. Cratchit.  Well meaning help from Clarence the Angel from Frank Capra’s It’s A Wonderful Life, television stars and Dutch tourists only complicate matters for the Ghost.  And then, there are still all the children …

Mrs. Bob Cratchit’s Wild Christmas Binge is part pastiche, part parody and all comedy.  It is an antidote for those who feel they too may drown in the syrupy schmaltz of the holiday season.

The cast includes:  Antoinette Hilliard, Una Ryan, Cian Daly, Patrick Gilley, Alan Riordan, Mark Cosgrave, John Ryan Howard, Judy Donovan, Tess Healy Maguire, Alex Murphy and a host of Cork’s finest young talent.

For more information, contact Tess Healy Maguire, Flying Pigs Productions, on 086 277 6029 or flyingpigsproductions@gmail.com.  For booking, contact the Cork Arts Theatre on 021 450 5624.

Hi all – a big well done to the cast and crew of The Clearing, directed by Jack Ahern, who’s currently touring the play around the Festival Circuit.

Jan O’Sullivan has picked up a raft of Best Actress Awards, with Emily Ahern winning a Best Sound award and Martina Cullinane getting a Special Adjudicator’s Award for Lighting, leading her to win a week away in Limerick this year at the Drama League of Ireland Summer School – always great fun.

Also, a big congrats to Emily and Martina (and their friend Lorna Cullen) who won a national song-writing award last weekend on Radio Ri Ra for their Irish language tune Briongloid Alainn. It’s going to be released later on a CD, so thanks to everyone who helped vote them into first place via the the Ri Ra website.

All the actors in The Clearing have got fine mentions at many festivals and what really has been good, has been the universally excellent reception the play has got from audiences. Every house has been near full and the play has been regularly applauded from scene to scene. This Thursday night is the last of our shows, at Holycross, Co Tipperary, so a big well done to Jack, who has done his usual amazingly energetic and detailed preparation and delivery. The Clearing is a play with a complex form and setting and Jack’s direction has been excellent.

Also, here’s a useful website with lots of reviews from all sorts of media around the world, for those on the lookout for a good play to produce: http://www.complete-review.com/maindex/maindex.html. If you search by play authors or titles, it lists all the major newspapers and media outlets that have covered productions in the UK, US and elsewhere.

If anyone’s a short-story writer, remember that entries for the Co Waterford Molly Keane Short Story competition close on March 31. See www.waterfordcoco.ie for details (under the Arts page).

Finally, Kevin McCormack of Fermoy (and Ballyduff Drama) would like to invite everyone to his latest production: “Hi, I hope this email finds you well.  I would appreciate your help in letting the world and his uncle know about the upcoming musical comedy The ‘ALL STAR’ Wars! The show runs at Cork Opera House from April 19th to 23rd 2011.  The ALL STAR Wars is written by Bryan Flynn and myself and we would really love to have full houses for the five nights as we premiere what we promise will be a superb night’s entertainment. Warm Regards, Kevin”

AUDITION NOTICE

Men Should Weep

Saturday, March 5th 10:00 to 16:00

Auditions are by appointment only

call Tess 086 2776029 for an appointment or by email at menshouldweep@gmail.com

Actors 8 years of age and up to 14 … total cast size 14 …

2 parts for children available.

AUDITION

1 minute prepared comedic or dramatic monologue or poem.

Please bring a brief bio and a recent headshot/photograph

( does not need to be professionally done).

Rehearsals begin March 12 for April (Easter) performances.

Rehearsal Schedule available to view at the audition.

Children’s Audition Notice
for
Men Should Weep
Written by Ena Lamont Stewart  Directed by Marion Wyatt

Saturday March 5 2011

Performances: April 24 – 30 inclusive

Stage Centre is currently seeking applications from girls, ages 8 – 14, who are interested in performing in Men Should Weep by Ena Lamont Stewart, at the Cork Arts Theatre.

Children who are cast will be expected to attend a special workshop in preparation for the production. This workshop will be held from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday March 12.

Parents who would like their children to audition should bring to the audition or email in advance to menshouldweep@gmail.com, a photograph of the child, along with height, age, clothing and shoe sizes, address and parent’s home and work phone numbers.

Children should also include a brief note telling the director/producer about themselves and why they would like to be in Men Should Weep.

Auditions will be held on Saturday, March 5 between 10.00 and 16.00.

Callbacks will be held later on the same day.

No one will be seen without an appointment.

Men Should Weep rehearses Saturdays and Sundays from March 12 to April 23

and performs April 23 – April 30 at the Cork Arts Theatre.

AUDITION NOTICE

for

Child Actors

For

Men Should Weep

Written by Ena Lamont Stewart  Directed by Marion Wyatt.

Auditions:    Saturday, March 5, 10 AM – 4 PM

Callback Auditions:   Later the same day.

Location:    The Metropole Hotel, MacCurtain Street, Cork.

Requirements:  Actors should come prepared to perform a short (under 2 minutes) monologue from any play or recite a poem of their choice.

Be prepared to sing Away In A Manger.

All children’s roles open:  Seeking young non-equity actors aged between 8 and 14 years, with a strong voice and the ability to do a Cork accent.

Rehearsals:  Rehearsals commence March 12 and will be held on Saturday and Sunday afternoons; however you will not be required to attend all rehearsals.

A Rehearsal Schedule will be finalised as soon as the casting is complete. A draft rehearsal schedule will be available for perusal at the auditions.

All rehearsals will be held at the Lough Community Centre.

We move into the theatre (April17).

No weekday or weeknight rehearsals until April 17.

Men Should Weep

Writer: Ena Lamont Stewart     Director: Marion Wyatt

Auditions

The Metropole Hotel

Sat. March 5

10:00 – 16:00

Children’s Roles

Playing Range 6-12

Appointments : Tess 086 2776029

Email resumes/headshots to: menshouldweep@gmail.com

About The Director

Marion Wyatt’s directing credits include: The Good Sisters (Cork Opera House), An Enchanted Evening (Everyman Palace Theatre), Anne Frank and Me,               ( Everyman Palace Theatre, Cork Arts Theatre), The Sunbeam Girls, (Cork Opera House), 12 Angry Men, (Everyman Palace Theatre), Romeo and Juliet,           (Half Moon Theatre), Man of La Mancha, (Cork Opera House), Singin’ In The Rain, (Everyman Palace Theatre and Olympia Theatre).

Other productions (a selection): Eclipsed, Agnes of God, Nunsense 1, The Woman in Black, Kindertransport, A Galway Girl, To Kill a Mockingbird, Moll, Once a Catholic, The Plough and The Stars, Nunsense: The Second Coming,

A Kind of Loving, Torch Song Trilogy, The Miracle Worker, Men Should Weep, Lovers, Shakers and The Conference of The Birds.

Awards include the Lord Mayor’s Cultural Award 2005, the Cork City Council Drama Award 2002/3, the Media Critics Best Director Award, Best Producer Award, and the Cork 800 Award.  Marion is the recipient of the Performance Fellowship, London College of Music, the LAMDA Teaching and Performance Diplomas, and the Master of Arts Degree (Drama Theatre Studies) UCC.
ABOUT THE PLAY

Men Should Weep

by

Ena Lamont Stewart

Ena Lamont Stewart’s Men Should Weep, was voted one of the top hundred plays of the last century in the NT millennium poll.

Despite cramped tenement living and the turmoil of seven children, there is laughter and strength in the Morrison family. Tough and tender mother Maggie, one of the great stage roles for women, just about holds together her unruly brood against wretched poverty.

But sniping neighbours, the flight of daughter Jenny, and the unexpected return to their overcrowded quarters of Maggie’s son and his sexually restless wife erodes her spirit. And then, just as temporary employment for beloved husband John affords a decent Christmas, wayward Jenny returns with new-found wealth, offering them the chance of escape and one big moral dilemma.

‘Superb…A vivid portrait of poverty. I loved this play.’ Daily Mail

‘Wholly engrossing.’ The Times

‘This telling combination of pathos and comedy is Men Should Weep at its best.’ Financial Times

‘A superb, surprisingly uplifting production…One of the dramatic highlights of the year.’ Daily Telegraph

Brideview Drama’s festival entry for this year, “Pied a Terre” was played to a very appreciative audience in Tallow over the weekend. The feedback received from those who attended was most encouraging and comments like “the best festival production coming from Brideview in a long time” and “superb set” were most encouraging.

Directed by Jack Aherne the play is an adult story with comedy as well as some very emotional scenes playing out the drama between three characters; Katie, a nineteen year old prostitute (Irene Kelleher), Jack, a fifty year old lawyer (Eddie Kelly) and Jack’s sister (Vanessa Hyde). There are many twists and turns in the plot and the audience is kept guessing right up until the final scene. With a superb set designed by Mary Sheehan and built by Peter Seeley, Mary Sheehan and Judy Burton and with help from James Hyde and Des Fitzsimons – the drama is played out in the New York apartment setting which is plush and not at all “conventional”.

Brideview would like to thank our Sponsors, Ted Keniry and Daybreak in Tallow and all those kind supporters who donated raffle prizes. Thanks once again to Paddy and Margaret Geary for handling front of house and to Mary Curley, Carmel McDonnell, Audrey Sheehan and Veronica Henley for their help with the interval refreshments.

Pied a Terre will now be performed at the Cork Arts Theatre this week from Thursday to Saturday (25th – 27th February) so please let your friends and family in Cork know that we are on! Tickets €15 can be pre-booked at 021 4505624 are at the door on the night. Curtain at 8pm.
–
Vanessa Hyde
PRO
Brideview Drama, Tallow
Co Waterford, Ireland
087 6733 782