Ennis Players, who recently completed a four-night sell-out run of John B. Keane’s ever popular ‘Sive’, will return to the stage at glór.
The Group played to capacity audiences, leaving many disappointed patrons who failed to get tickets for this amazing production. The audience reaction to the production was overwhelmingly positive and standing ovations were the order of the day.
The set design has been described as stunning and the production as an outstanding emotional roller coaster, with stellar performances from a powerful group of actors. By popular demand, the Players will return to glór for a strictly limited run of just two nights on Monday 29th & Tuesday 30th April, tickets are already flying out the door, so patrons are advised to book early to avoid disappointment.
Director, Bernie Harten paid tribute to an amazingly talented and hardworking cast who mined every word of John B’s script for the depth, humour, pathos and tragedy and to the artistic crew who ensured her vision for the set, costumes, make-up and technicals was realised.
From the moment audience members entered the auditorium they were enthralled by the breath-taking set that filled the enormous glór stage yet managed to convey the claustrophobia of a 1950s country cottage complete with smoke from the chimney and every authentic artefact from the era. The cut-away wall gave sight of a turf shed filled with turf and beautiful stone walls giving way to the distant bog.
Ennis Players’ production sees the two women of the house attack each other with vicious energy, Mena, played by Maeve Plunkett spits insults at Nanna, played by Amy McEnnis who takes perverse delight in goading Mena for her lack of children. These two actresses get every ounce of spiteful humour, bitterness and ultimately sadness from the characters. Mike Glavin, the weak-willed man of the house, played by John Lillis is tormented by the two women in his life and torn between his love for his niece Sive and his desire for money.
He is easily manipulated by the cunning and greedy Thomasheen Sean Rua, played by Jackie Scanlan who forces him to betray Sive against his better judgement. As always, the villians get the best lines and Jackie Scanlan’s delivery ensures the audience are roaring with laughter while despising the wretched character. The star-crossed young lovers; Sive and Liam Scuab are played by Sinead Finn and Declan Honan and from the outset the joy of their love shines through and we hope they will escape the cynical, cruel life which awaits them. The ageing suitor to whom Sive is matched is wonderfully portrayed by Hugh Gallagher as a sinister wolf in sheep’s clothing.
Bernie Harten has cast two women in the traditionally male roles of the Tinkers, Pats Bocock and Carthalawn, played by Geraldine Greene and Saoirse Byrne respectively. Keane intended his Tinkers to be other worldly, almost mythical and representing a Greek chorus and in this production, they are costumed fabulously in complete contrast to the dull peasant’s clothing of the residents.
Their entrances are energetic and almost dervish-like as they tell their stories of what they see and hear on their travels. This production explores the power struggles, the greed & exploitation, the poverty and harshness of life as well as the tremendous wit and humour of John B’s writing. It is a beautifully balanced production culminating in a final scene which leaves the audience breathless.
The initial run of this production was a sell-out and raised over €4,200 for Sláinte an Chláir and Breast Cancer Research, bringing to over €115,000 the amount Ennis Players has helped raise for charities over the past number of years. Booking is already brisk for the upcoming performances so early booking is advised to avoid disappointment, tickets are available on line with glór or through the box office 065 684 3103.