Listowel Group’s Blithe Spirit – A Worthy Curtain Closer – Jerome Stack

Island Players Drama Group members: Jean Horgan (left) with Jerome Stack, festival director and Caroline Healy-O’Connor at the Ivy Leaf Art Centre on the opening night of the 2016 festival. ©Photograph: John Reidy

At the Ivy Leaf Art Centre in Castleisland on the opening night of the 2016 Kerry Drama Festival were: Jerome Stack, festival director; Michael Twomey festival adjudicator and Mayor of the Killarney Municipal Area, Cllr. Bobby O’Connell who performed the official opening. ©Photograph: john Reidy

Kerry Drama Festival Director, Jerome Stack pictured with Larry Long (left) and Noel Keenan at the Ivy Leaf Art Centre on the opening night of the 2016 festival. ©Photograph: John Reidy

At the Ivy Leaf Art Centre in Castleisland on the opening night of the 2016 Kerry Drama Festival were: Jerome Stack, festival director; Michael Twomey festival adjudicator; Mayor of the Killarney Municipal Area, Cllr. Bobby O’Connell who performed the official opening and festival committee member, Mary Murphy. ©Photograph: john Reidy

Launching local artist, Kevin Barry’s exhibition in conjunction with the Kerry Drama Festival were from left: Mayor of the Killarney Municipal Area, Cllr. Bobby O’Connell, Kevin Barry, Joe Martin, Jerome Stack, festival director and Michael Twomey festival adjudicator. ©Photograph: john Reidy

Ciaran Fleming and Vincent Barry pictured at the Ivy Leaf Art Centre on the opening night of the 2016 Kerry Drama Festival. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Jean Horgan (left) and Conceil Leahy pictured at the Ivy Leaf Art Centre on the opening night of the 2016 Kerry Drama Festival. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Aiden Reidy pictured with the Higgins sisters, Christine (left) and Trish at the 2016 Kerry Drama Festival Opening night at the Ivy Leaf Art Centre. ©Photograph: John Reidy

The 2016 Kerry Drama Festival concluded with a Saturday night performance of Noël Coward’s Blithe Spirit by Listowel Drama Group.
“The performance, to a full house, was a worthy curtain closer to a week of outstanding productions.
Indeed, Listowel Drama Group came second in the confined section as well as winning best actress for Imelda Dowling-Garvey,” said festival director, Jerome Stack.
“Our adjudicator, Mr. Michael Twomey was well received by the audience each night for his concise, entertaining comments by the audience and for his professional approach and attitude,” said Mr. Stack.
The winners and categories are as follows: Open Section: 1st. Dalkey Players with Jane Eyre; 2nd. Palace Players with The Gili Concert; 3rd. Brideview Drama with The Belfry. In the Confined Section: 1st. Shannonside Drama Group with The Kings of Kilburn High Road; 2nd. Listowel Drama Group with Blithe Spirit; 3rd. Skibereen Theatre Society with The Quiet Moment.
Local artist, Kevin Barry mounted an exhibition of previously seen and new painting pieces in conjunction with the festival. One in particular, a new work on the late Danny Broderick caught the eye of many of the theatre goers over the week.
The late Danny was part and parcel of the Kerry Drama Festival from the time of its revival in the Ivy Leaf in 1988 under the stewardship of Jerome Stack and his committee.
Danny was also an integral part of the Island Players and took on leading roles in many of the plays. He also got stuck into set design and construction with Jerome as producer down through the years.
Danny passed away while indulging in one of his great hobbies, playing pitch & putt at the local course on May 13th 2010. Fittingly, there’s a tournament in his memory which is played on the course each summer for the past five years.