The cast of Castleconnor Drama Group are busy rehearsing this year’s play “When Your Number’s Up” a two act comedy set in the village of Carrowansheen in rural Ireland in 1990s.
The show is directed by Seamus O’Dowd and takes place in The Community Centre, Castleconnor on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, March 6-8 at 8.30pm sharp. Admission is €10 and doors open at 7.30pm.
This fast moving production is full of twists and turns with a wide range of characters and personalities, typical of rural Ireland. The story line evolves around Thomasheen Hare and his wife Bessy and their distressed cash flow.
Frank Barrett plays Thomasheen while Greta Harrison plays Bessy, his long-suffering wife. Bessy’s life is thrown off course somewhat when the local postman, Jack Long, played by John Ruane, delivers a registered letter demanding full repayment of an outstanding debt to the Hare residence.
Bessy has to think quickly on a plan to deal with the situation and she comes up with a scheme that has hilarious consequences.
Pauline Boland plays Thomasheen’s sister, Laurie-Ann, home from America and she is accompanied by her husband, Albert, played by Mick Egan. This pair is intent on making their presence felt with their side-splitting antics.
John Judge is back on stage this year playing the part of Dickie Browne, who is a rogue and always in search of a bit of a bargain!
Bill Dooher, played by Michael Barrett, is the ever-caring neighbour of Thomasheen and Bessy but as this play unfolds, Bill sees a side of Thomasheen that he had not been expecting.
Mary Kate Higgins, the village gossip, played by Breege Cahill, who is intent on trying to keep her son Mickie, played by Ciaran Connor, out of bother. However, Mickie discovers that there is a “trade lost in him” as the plot unfolds.
Andy and Packie, the Conway twins, played by Larry Jones and Donal Mulkeen, are local bovine reproduction engineers (with a difference) and bring their own humour to the show.
Padraig Connor, played by Tom Tuffy, is the local Publican, County Councillor and Undertaker, who is in for a shock when a removal does not go exactly to plan.
Grainne McLaughlin plays Geraldine the bar maid in Padraig Connor’s pub and she has her hands full when Dickie Browne and the Conway twins drop in for their customary mid morning break. The group is delighted to welcome Grainne on her first appearance with the group.
Rita Dooher, played by Rachel Naughton, is a young daughter of Bill Dooher who has come to give Bessy a hand with entertaining her visitors.
Rachel has already appeared in a number of pantomimes with the group and this is her first appearance as a cast member of the group’s main production. The group is also delighted to have her on board for this show.
The Hares’ young neighbour, Jamie, played by Owen Gillard, has some searching questions for Thomasheen in the final scene. Owen is no stranger to the stage in Castleconnor having already appeared in numerous pantomimes and also in a previous production with the Drama Group.
Castleconnor cast rehearse comedy play,
