A Tale of Two Noras

Emotionally draining but ultimately extremely satisfying. These were the words used by Pat Sweeney to describe her experience of playing Nora Clitheroe in the Sligo Drama Circle’s production of “The Plough and the Stars” in 1969. Now thirty eight years later, Averl Dooher is taking on the role of the ambitions wife who tries to better the lives of herself and her husband Jack, against a background of devastating poverty during 1916 Rising. In the end, her loyalty and love for her husband costs her the life of their child and her sanity.

“As a young actress, Nora is a great role to play and I thoroughly relished being given the opportunity to bring her to life,” said Pat. She explained that The Assembly Room in the Town Hall was the setting for the 1969 production, staged as part of the entertainment for the Yeats’ International Summer School. However, in the 60s, the Circle didn’t have a set and it was only through the generosity of the Carrick-on-Shannon Drama Group that the production was able to go ahead. Directed by one of Sligo’s best loved and well-known directors, Walter Mc Donagh, the cast included well-known local personalities Liam Mc Kinney, Ruth Crampton, Ben Healy, Cormac Sheridan, Eily Kilgallon and Maria Mc Dermottroe.

Thirty eight years on, Sligo Drama Circle’s latest Nora, Averyl Dooher said she’s interested to see what Pat will think of her portrayal of the character, which will be performed on stage at the Hawk’s Well Theatre from today, Wednesday until Saturday night. She also wondered how both Pat and other audience members will react to Jack’s quite brutal treatment of his wife, which is portrayed in this production.

“The pitiful character at the end of the play, wandering aimlessly around Bessie’s home, is a far cry from the glamorous Nora we hear about through other characters and meet in Act One,” said Averyl. “I really hope my interpretation of Nora captures this for the audience.”

She added: “Nora is vibrant and sassy at the beginning of the play, and like me, she’s quite bossy, so it’s really not hard for me to play the part, but it’s the scenes in the second part of the play where Nora must cope with losing her baby, her husband and her mind that I am most enjoying and that I find most challenging. “I’m really looking forward to audiences meeting the character again and hope they empathise with her pain and suffering.” The Drama Circle welcomes back Ursula Smullen to direct the show, which also stars Gerry Ryan (Fluther), Siobhán Dooney (Bessie), Máire Hynes (Mrs Gogan), Dermot Ryan (Covey) Ultan Burke (Uncle Pether), Barry Duignan (Jack Clitheroe) Muireann Tóbín (Rosie Redmond), Jerry Norman (Barman) Róisín Kilcoyne (Woman), Vinnie Holland (Lieut. Langon), Kevin Boyle (Capt Brennan), Elaine Burke (Mollser), Michael Leyden (Voice), Adrian O’ Neill and Chewey Mc Morrow (Soldiers). The show runs nightly at 8pm and tickets can be booked from the box office on 071 9161526. More information is available at www.sligodramacircle.ie.

from The Sligo Champion, April 25th, 2007