Sligo Drama Circle Players Successful Again

Members of Sligo Drama Circle were photographed with some of their trophies before they travelled to Athlone last week to stage “Death of a Salesman” by Arthur Miller at this year’s All-Ireland Drama Festival where, last year, the group won the premier award, the Esso Trophy. And this year, they were again in the award lists taking the Sportex Trophy in the Two Act and More Open Section, while producer, Liam Mc Kinney, Temple Street, Sligo, won the production award and Seán Scanlon, also of the Drama Circle, was awarded the Moore Trophy for the best Stage Manager at the festival. After they presented “Death of a Salesman” at the Festival towards the end of last week, the Drama Circle were told by the adjudicator, Mr. Raymond Edwards, that their production was true to the quality of the author, Arthur Miller.

Recalling that this team won the major award at last year’s festival, he said, “I am glad to say they did not disappoint tonight”. Mr. Edwards said that whilst there was a swiftness and precision about the production, more vehemence and more awareness of individual characterisation were necessary. Mr. Edwards added that Shane Cleary, as Willie, was the king-pin of the whole production, although he might have given a better word image of the character. The foundations were well laid in the early stages. The group was fortunate in having such contrasts between Cormac Sheridan and Brian Mc Hugh who played the brothers. Eily Kilgannon as Linda came over very well. Manus Shields was solid and authoritative whilst Lionel Gallagher had a very good sense of the whole character of Charley. He added that the minor characters played their parts unobtrusively.

from The Sligo Champion, May 7th, 1971