REVIEW: Sive

Last weekend saw the Bardic group take 'Sive' to CRAIC Theatre, as audience members were treated to a stellar cast of old faithfuls and a couple of undoubtedly new staples on the local theatre circuit. Keane’s 'Sive' is a melodramatic comment on life in 1950s Ireland, in which Keane condemns the societal norms of arranged marriage with the promise of money and land, as well as giving an insight into the mindsets of the period. It is reminiscent of earlier melodrama by the likes of John M. Synge and Dion Boucicault, who along with Keane are playwrights that the local theatre groups should utilise more often.

In this production of 'Sive', the Bardic group dealt a killer blow to the opinion that amateur dramatics is what the small town/country folk have to settle for as all the professionals are in the big city theatres. This production wouldn’t look out of place in London’s West End due to the calibre of the performances by the actors involved. To pick a stand-out performance would be impossible as each and every actor on stage was of a professional standard. Ann McCourt played Mena with slightly less venom than Keane may have intended but the subtle style employed by her coupled with her naturalness on stage was very successful. Frances Jordan played a blinder as the old grandmother, and endeared the audience to her immediately. Her walk, her facial expressions, the way she sat with her knees uncouthly apart, the contrasting ways in which she spoke to Sive and Mena, everything about her performance was comment worthy. Jim McKeown may have been the actor to get into his role the most, as his portrayal of Thomasheen Sean Rua was injected with lots of little nuances, such as biting his nails (or the skin around his nails…), warming his hands at the fire, and sneakily looking out through the window. Veteran Frank Fee looked right at home in the rural Irish house and, as can be expected, delivered another natural and commendable performance as the browbeaten husband and son. Sive was played by Anna Deery, and she was perfect for the part as she conveyed a sense of innocence, naiveté, youth, powerlessness and helplessness – everything Keane intended Sive to be.

Already a well known and lauded piece of the theatre, the Bardic knew that with 'Sive' they were running with a crowd pleaser. However, the way in which it was done is what made it so memorable. The set was convincing, the directing was spot on, the music between scenes was haunting, but overall it was the quality of the acting that made this an evening out to be talked about over the breakfast table the next morning for all the right reasons. With such powerful performances, many audience members simply wouldn’t have had the strength to talk about it afterwards due to the emotional ending. There was no gradual standing ovation here, but instead the audience instantly rose to their feet. This is a local production that will be remembered for some time.

REVIEW: Murder at Green Acres

Footlights drama group has been on the go for nineteen years now and has nurtured theatrical talents in countless young people in the Dungannon area and beyond. This production, which was staged in CRAIC Theatre on 22nd and 23rd April, epitomises everything that Footlights stands for. An original stage play, written and directed by Roisin-Anne McGeown (under the pseudonym of Paul Convery), the comical ‘whodunnit’ story required an extravagant sixteen actors, therefore providing a great opportunity for members of the Footlights group to hone their skills.

But this wasn’t simply just an exercise in which to give the young people a run out on the stage. This was a production that was professional, enjoyable, engaging and nothing but commendable. Not only was the plot fantastic, calling to mind the likes of The Mouse Trap and The 39 Steps, but with a play comprising so many actors the audience was able to differentiate between the characters and easily follow the intricate storyline. Particular attention should be paid to Maire Fahy, who played Marjorie Fortesque, with her unfaltering English accent, haughty airs and quick temper, her performance was nothing short of excellent.

Other stand out performances came with Kevin Campbell’s portrayal of Geoffrey, and Harry-Og Conlon’s interpretation of Rev Winklebottom . The bubbling English accents of these two were most entertaining, and they made their comical situations even funnier.

The interaction between the actors on stage was perhaps what made this play such a winner with an audience that had members from all age groups. Seeing productions like this just proves how brilliant community theatre can be and how important it is that we support it.