“Man For All Seasons” Continues This Weekend

Sligo Drama Circle opened its 1978 summer season with a vote of confidence in the Irish climate as well as in Sligo theatre-goers with an open air presentation of “A Man For All Seasons” by Robert Bolt, in the Retreat House Gardens on Sunday evening last. Despite the cold of the opening night, this was a splendid production in a fine setting. Entering the gardens from the Cathedral car park, the theatre goer found himself transported back to the sixteenth century with the colour, banners, pavilion and simple circular platform which might have been erected for an entertainment at Hampton Court.

A blast of appropriate music followed by a parade of the magnificently costumed players emphasised the illusion of Tudor times. The play itself, of course, was an excellent choice, catching all the conflict of the age of the English Reformation. By examining Thomas Moore’s refusal to compromise, despite his loyalty to his monarch, and he pressure from those he loved, the play breaks beyond the confines of time and space to a universal stage.

The acting lived up to the play and the setting. Columb Mc Bride’s performance as the “Common Man”, representing most of us in times of conflict, was a tour-de-force. Paddy Dooney as Cardinal Woolsey gave a performance to be remembered, and equally impressive were Joan Fitzpatrick as Lady Alice Moore and Walter Mc Donagh as the Spanish Ambassador. The Drama Circle has a future in Martin Mc Dermottroe who played the demanding role of Henry VIII with great energy and verve. John Caheny played Richard Rich with just the right note of nastiness, and Cormac Sheridan gave solid support as the Duke of Norfolk.

Ita Mc Morrow, as Moore’s daughter, and Manus Shields as her suitor, Roper, nicely counter-balanced their own situation with that of the wider one in which they were caught. Strong support came from Robert Burnside as Cromwell, Ann Mc Dermott as Catherine, Padraig Foran and Eamonn Flanagan. As Thomas More, Kieran Hickey underscored the early scenes so that he grew in stature as the story unfolded. Once again, director Liam Mc Kinney has proved that no play is too difficult or adventurous for him to tackle and anything he takes on adds to his reputation. The play was no exception. The play runs for three further nights – Thursday 22nd, Friday 23rd and Saturday 24th.

from The Sligo Champion, June 1978