Ennis Players have confirmed they will present ‘Steel Magnolias’ by Robert Harling at glór in Ennis next month while rehearsals well underway for their four-night production.
Featuring Gillian Davis Dunphy as Truvy, Tara Monaghan as Shelby, Noreen O’Loughlin as Annelle, Sinéad Clancy as M’Lynn, Laura O’Brien as Clairee and Geraldine Greene as Ouiser, the story takes place in small-town Louisiana, in Truvy’s beauty salon.
This is where anyone who’s anyone goes to have her hair done but it’s also the place where gossip is exchanged, problems are resolved, and lifelong friendships are formed. While Shelby ‘would rather have thirty minutes of wonderful than a lifetime of nothing special’, Ennis Players promise ninety minutes of sharp, funny dialogue and strong, sassy women, while the story builds towards a deeply moving conclusion.
The production is generously sponsored by the National Hairdressing Apprenticeship, the first nationally recognised hairdressing qualification in Ireland. This apprenticeship was developed and is co-ordinated nationally by Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board which, along with other collaborating ETBs, offer training for this award at three of its College of FET campuses in the region. Speaking on behalf of the ETB, Alan Hogan, FET Manager – Innovation, Development and Quality, said: “Given the setting of the play in a Louisiana hairdressing salon, we are delighted to lend our support to this production through training workshops and advice to create a true salon experience on stage.”
Director, Bernie Harten says she is delighted to work with such a committed cast on this wonderful script and is having great fun with the witty dialogue & strong characters. Speaking about the production, Bernie says ‘The cast, not only have to create characters, but have also had to learn how to ‘do’ hair. Thankfully we could draw on the expertise of the Instructors from the National Hairdressing Apprenticeship to tutor Truvy & her own apprentice. We look forward to bringing this heart-warming story of true friendship through good times and bad, to our Ennis audience.’
Speaking about the event, Eddie McCourt, Chairperson of Ennis Players said ‘We are delighted to perform our full-length production of ‘Steel Magnolias’ and look forward to welcoming our Patrons, Friends and supporters to glór, where they will be treated to a wonderful night of high quality theatre’.
Over the years Ennis Players has helped raise over €90,000 for local and national charities through initiatives on opening night performances. This tradition will continue this year, the chosen beneficiary being Cahercalla Hospital.
‘Steel Magnolias’ will be staged in glór from Monday, April 15th to Thursday, April 18th, nightly at 8pm. Tickets are €18 and €20, exclusive of booking fee, and are on sale now from glór box office (065-6843103) and www.glor.ie. Early booking is advised, as this event is always very popular in the diary of Clare’s theatre audience.
Ennis Players is a theatre group based in County Clare and regularly stages productions of all genres. The group has been competing on both the One Act & Three Act festival circuits since the mid-1980s, winning the titles on a number of occasions.
Over the years Ennis Players has toured extensively both at home and abroad travelling to the Canadian Folklorama at Winnipeg, the Bailiwick Theatre in Chicago, the Atheneum Theatre in Melbourne, the Princess Grace Theatre in Monaco, the Liverpool International Theatre Festival in Nova Scotia and the Milwaukee Irish Festival.
In 2003, 2011 and 2021 Ennis Players had the honour of hosting the All-Ireland One Act drama finals with much success.