Drama Circle For Athlone

Sligo Drama Circle have swept the boards from three out of four drama festivals with their production of Tennessee Williams’ “The Glass Menagerie” and with premier awards from Tubbercurry, Cavan and Ballyshannon, their nomination to the Athlone festival has been secured with more points than is necessary. It will be the first time in six years for the Sligo group to appear at the All-Ireland Festival in Athlone (April 17th-27th) although at one time their nomination was practically an annual affair. Up to 1963 their record at the Athlone festival was as follows – “Thy Dear Father” 2nd; “The Money Doesn’t Matter” 3rd; “God’s Gentry” 2nd; “Montserrat” withdrawn due to sickness of the cast; “To Live in Peace” 5th; “My Three Angels” 2nd; and “The Curious Savage” 3rd.

This year might give the Drama Circle their first All-Ireland award because adjudicators at Tubbercurry, Cavan and Ballyshannon were wildly enthusiastic about their drama. After a “talk of the town” run at Sligo’s Gillooly Hall, the group made their first competitive appearance at Cavan where they took the premier award, the Bishop Lyons Cup, as well as the trophy for the best stage setting, the Fr. John Brady Cup. And commenting on the production, the adjudicator said he had never before seen the technique used by the producer, Mr. Liam Mc Kinney, whose interpretation of the drama was such that it gave the impression that he knew Mr. Williams personally. The adjudicator also remarked that it was very pleasing to see an amateur company bite off such a big challenge for themselves and bring international plays to Irish audiences.

The winning of the Canon Gildea award for the premier production at Tubbercurry marked the first such success for the Drama Circle at the Western Drama Festival. The Sligo group also took the J.J. Henry Cup for the most imaginative production while Shane Cleary, a member of the cast, received a silver medal for acting. Speaking at the festival after watching the production, the adjudicator, Miss Gerda Redlich, said it was a lovely play and “many candles of productive and acting skill have been lit in its honour”. The group had kept the audience completely spellbound with their extremely interesting and artistic scenery, their very superb lighting, their wonderful costumes and the delightful treatment of the dialogue.

Miss Redlich said it took a very scientific fingertip touch to bring the play to life and that was what the Sligo group had done. She said the play was very well cast and Joan Fitzpatrick, playing the part of Amanda, the mother, had the character to perfection while Jim, Eddie Fitzpatrick, played the part exactly as the author wished it to be played. Imelda Walsh, as Laura, performed her very fragile part with great delicacy. The whole play took place in the memory of Tom, Shane Cleary, and some of his memories were clear while others were rather dim. This came across perfectly.

Roscommon Drama Festival was somewhat of an anti-climax for the Circle took third place although Mr. Liam Canning won the award for lighting but last weekend at Ballyshannon, the Drama Circle were very much in the awards, taking the Four Masters Cup, the blue riband of the festival, as well as the cup and medal for the production. It was at Ballyshannon that, perhaps, the greatest achievement of the group was recognised for among the cast of four, Imelda Walsh, playing her first ever part on the stage, was awarded the gold medal for the best actress of the festival. At Tubbercurry, too, Miss Walsh was mentioned specially by the adjudicator who said she was an actress who would go far.

Mr. Christopher Fits-Simon, who adjudicated at Ballyshannon, said of the Circle’s performance that it was a night for superlatives and there was no need to add to that. He had seen the play performed by a professional group but Sligo Drama Circle’s production was a more satisfying show. In the final analysis, he would not attempt to name any of the players because it would be an injustice to their team work. And it has been the team work and the and understanding of the cast and backstage team which has been responsible for the tremendous success of the Drama Circle and through producer, Liam Mc Kinney, is undoubtedly the inspiring figure in the group. He, himself, has paid glowing tribute to his behind-the-scenes workers, particularly, Miss Marion Reidy; Mr. Aidan Sexton, sound; and Mr. Liam Canning, lighting.

Next Saturday, Sligo Drama Circle travel to Carrickmore, Co. Tyrone hoping to emulate their success of two years ago when they received a nomination to Belfast for their production of “The Playboy of the Western World”. That year, they went on to win the Northern Ireland title with “The Playboy”. Athlone next month will, however, be their biggest hope because it must be the only prize in Ireland which the group has yet to win. And success in Athlone, or in Belfast if Sligo are nominated, will carry the further attraction that the top two groups will go forward to compete with the top two British and leading Continental group at a special competition in conjunction with the Dundalk Maytime Festival.

The Drama Circle’s remarkable run has been closely followed by all drama enthusiasts in Sligo and for those who did not have the opportunity of seeing “The Glass Menagerie” for themselves, special repeat performances will be given in Sligo during the week after the annual Feiseanna. Incidentally, every support should be given to these performances because finances are essential to keep the group on the road.

from The Sligo Champion, March 28th, 1969