Blithe Spirit

Well here we are in production for another play, this time the wonderful Blithe Spirit by Noel Coward. It's a funny show with lots of ghostly entertainment. Jane Mulcahy directs - fresh from her Honeymoon - with a stellar cast including our new Hon Sec Sinead, past Hon Sec Charles, Andrew, Deirdre, Aoife, Rosalie and new girl Fiona. Rehearsals are in full swing and it's coming along nicely. The show is on the 26th-28th November.
LPP have also thrown their hat into the One Act Festivals this year with a new play by Carlo Gebler based on the book Miss Brill, directed by Noleen Hartigan. We haven't done the Festival circuit for many many years (before my time even!) so it's an exciting venture for us. We hope to apply for the Bray Festival in January too which we have performed at more recently but still it must be nearly 10 years - Exciting times for LPP.

Dunlavin

Dunlavin is three weeks ago now. It is amazing to report how smoothly everything went. Suffice to say the Deerings were wonderful hosts and cast and crew displayed tremendous energy and intitiative throughout. The performances were magical, enhanced by the setting, the backgrund sounds of cows and chickens, the lighting, the costume and the dry ice. We made € 1000 for local schools and what's more, a very good impression. I'd love to go back there.

Funlavin

Things are moving ahead. Rehearsals in small groups are taking place this week in John McCarthy's offices in Rathgar. Paul drove back from Galway specially. This week end will be a busy time in the hall, with rehearsals, set painting ( one colour black ) and assembling the costume.

Jean and Jackie are working on props and Sinead on the catering and front of house. The lighting is ordered, Barry Deering has welded in a lighting bar for us.
I hope Andrew and Avril are recovered from swine flu - they are badly needed.

It is lovely to hear some of the phrases from the show again - a young dissipated owl - like Leander, barring the wetting - your beauty has left a lining in it that has kept me warm ever since -. I liked Mrs Cregan talking about their estates being - heavily involved - a lovely euphemism.

A Lot Has Happened

The last post was about the auditions for Move Over Mrs Markham - it was cast with four new male members Eoin Langford, Jim Carroll, Ben Mulhern and Andrew Deering with Hilary Rose making her LPP stage debut alongside Sinead Fitzpatrick, Sarah Louise Cleary and Michelle Reid.
What a blessed production, from assembling such a stellar cast, through the costuming by Dorothy, Stage Design and Construction by Maud and Roger, through to the A. Rankin DVD and the secretary finding the perfect 1970's chair in a skip.
A magnificient response frm our audiences, with the economic clouds darkening it was just the ticket.
The Bar B Q was for once blessed with sunshine. Adrian Chapman returned to impressively catch Stephen McWhite at short mid wicket in a rousing game of cricket. Jan impressed with the bat, Sinead told the bowlers wehre she wanted it. Eric's othodox batting was impressive too.
The Colleen Bawn is due to ride again in the Deering barn in Dunlavin, Andrew Deering will take over from Glynner who played Hardress in November.
Don't forget the DLI summer school - Noeleen is definitely going, Andrew Rankin, JP Swaine and John McCarthy are also making interested noises.
Tara Power was a powerful al fresco Cleopatra in St Stepehn's Green and was a great interviewee on the Myles Dungan show.

Auditions

Auditions for MOMM are on Monday 19th January in the hall. 8pm

Spring Play

The dates for the audition and performance will be announced soon. Available committee members had a reading of Move Over Miss Markham, a farce from the 1970's. We rarely do farces as it usually reuires a long period rehearsing on the actual stage with the set already made, in order to cope with the split second exits and entrances.
However Roger, who has very happy memories of the first time LPP did the play in the 1980's would build a temporary door for us to use in the rehearsal room.
I was helpless with laughter on occasions during the read through, overcome by the weight of the innuendo. It will be a technical challenge for the actors, but bought off well, it should a night of unrivalled hilarity. That is the plan.

I am still being stopped by people in the street and hearing great praise for the Colleen Bawn. It deserves another outing. I am trying to find a venue. The DVD is excellent, well done Andrew. I have a couple of copies left € 10.