Lanahrone Players bring an evening of three plays to the GAFF on March 27 & 28

Lanahrone Players bring and evening of three plays to the GAFF on March 27 & 28. Fourteen, by Alice Ginsberg is a period comedy set in 1920s New York. Picture: Alan Place

Lanahrone Players Evening of Three Plays offers something for everybody at the GAFF on Friday & Saturday, March 27 – 28

With three distinct dramas from different eras and of widely different styles, audiences will certainly not be bored with the Lanahrone Players at the GAFF on Friday and Saturday, March 27 and 28.

A 20-minute period comedy set in 1920s New York is followed by an intense a 12-minute modern day psychological drama. After a short interval a newly written play set in contemporary Limerick offers a complex emotional experience.

Fourteen, by Alice Ginsberg is a period comedy set in 1920s New York. Central character Mrs Pringle tries to find a beau for her daughter Elaine through inviting fourteen guests to dinner. A savage snowstorm however thwarts her efforts at hosting the perfect party in this comedy of manners. The play turns on the slick delivery of slapstick lines with the constantly ringing candlestick telephone almost featuring as a character in its own right. Audiences will enjoy the ride alongside the mother/daughter duo and long-suffering butler before the play reaches its satisfying conclusion.

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Written in 2020 by Janet S Tiger, the psychological drama Crime comprises three intertwined monologues about the same killings. The central character Orlando who has craved attention all his life, resorts to desperate measures to get it. His mother Christine, a single parent who worked around the clock to provide for her son, is forced to do something no parent would wish.

And who could have expected Gregory who was after all only a kid mitching from school on the day, to come forward with evidence? Personal tragedies are what force characters to confront their pasts and take action in the end. Only 12 minutes in length, Crime leads audiences to consider the same story from three different angles – conclusions are not foregone.

What Would I Do Without You? is a new and first play written by group member Eilín Mulcahy. Set in 2025 Limerick, central character Mary’s declining health, dependence on others and advancing years lead her to make questionable decisions. Themes of family loyalty, ageing and erosion of independence in later life, are touched upon. In grappling with moral ambiguities, the play turns on twists and revelations such that each of the four characters evokes sympathy, in some sense. Peppered with Limerick humour, this dramedy handles a serious dramatic subject with witty comedy.

The show starts at 8pm at the Gaff Community Arts Space, where Lanahrone Players are delighted to have found a home for their first outing.

A love of theatre and her local community motivated Corbally woman Oonagh Kirby to go about setting up a drama group.  With fellow Corbally woman Eilín Mulcahy on board and an early commitment from Rebecca Barry of the College Players to direct their first production, the seeds of a drama group in Corbally began to sprout.  Following kitchen table meetings with a few more interested people, a decision to affiliate with the Drama League of Ireland was taken and Lanahrone Players was established.

The group chose the name Lanahrone Players after the old mansion ‘Lanahrone House’ on which the Irish Estates was built. The word Lanahrone derives from the Irish Oileán na Róin or the island of seals and the group’s logo of a seal was drawn by artist and group member Ellen Harrold.

The primary aim of Lanahrone Players is to give a platform to local actors, directors and writers. The plan is to give people of some, little or no experience an opportunity to participate in making theatre at their level. It has been a steep learning curve, but the founding members have been heartened by the encouragement and support of established drama groups in the city.

Lanahrone Players’ inaugural production of three short plays will take place at the Gaff towards the end of March. The line-up includes a newly written play by founding member Eilin. Local actors will be joined by guest actors and directors from the College Players. You can contact the group at [email protected]