The Island Players will take to the stage for five nights with their 52nd production this week from Wednesday, night November 23rd to Sunday 27th at 8pm nightly.
Canaries is the offering and a hilarious comedy by Bernard Farrell. It’s a play which the Island Players of yore staged at the same venue back in 1983.
The cast this time around consists of: Producer/ director, Jerome Stack with actors: Caroline Healy, Tommy Martin, Hugh Jordan, Michael Burke, Mairead O’Mahony, Rosaleen Higgins, Redmond Roche, Dan Kearney, Trisha Higgins, Brid O’Shea, Jean Horgan, James McCarthy. Producer, Jerome Stack; Lighting and Sound, Aidan Reidy; Lighting assistant, J.J. O’Connor; Set Construction and Design: Jerome Stack, Mike Brosnan, Trisha Higgins and Gene Brosnan.
Front of House: Conseil Leahy, Ciaran Fleming, Denis O’Donovan, Caroline Martin, Brenda Stack, Eilis O’Leary and Gerard Murphy.
Cast of the 1983 Production
The cast and crew of the 1983 production was as follows: Seán McCarthy, Eleanor Scully, Caroline Moloney, Denis Griffin, Moss Teahan, Angela Crowley, Mike Healy, Danny Broderick, Liz Teahan, Beth Carty and Kieran Fleming. Producer: Jerome Stack; Stage management, Beth Carty; Lighting, John Keane, Moss Keane and Billy Prendiville; Set Construction: Jerome Stack and Danny Broderick; Set Decoration, Eleanor Scully; Makeup, Joan Kelliher and Gabey Keane, Front of House: Lil McCarthy, Margaret Sheehan, Jerh Collins, Daisy O’Connor, Peggy Teahan, Marge Healy and Tom Doody.
30 Years in Existence
As The Island Players are in existence now for over 30 years, the group has seen a fair number of people pass through over the years.
Some members have been with the group since the beginning, others came and went in the meantime. “We now find that due to work commitments of a lot of people, it is not easy to cast plays and get help back stage,”said Jerome Stack in an appeal for new members to join up.
“We would very much like to see more people showing an interest in becoming members, so that the tradition of amateur drama can continue in the town.
“If you would like to become a member, please contact any member of the group and they will be glad to give you all the information you need. PLEASE JOIN UP – WE NEED YOU,” said Jerome.
Tickets are €10 each and bookings for the upcoming production can be made on 086 1054515
About the Players
Jerome Stack: Alongside his fellow Listowel native, Fr. Kieran O’Shea, Jerome Stack got the ball rolling on setting up a drama group in Castleisland. The town was in the grip of the all consuming Tops-of-the-Town at the time and the pickings were rich.
Anyone Could Rob a Bank was their first production with a local cast and crew. This was staged at Castleisland Community Centre. Soon after they embarked on getting the neglected and vandalised, former St. Stephen’s Church on the long road to restoration. Today it is known widely as The Ivy Leaf Art Centre.
Caroline Healy-OConnor: Joined the Island Players in 1998 in Cat Among The Pigeons and has appeared in: Sive; Losers; Deeply Regretted By; Dancing At Lugnhasa and Run for Your Wife.
Tommy Martin: One of the longest serving members of the Island Players. Tommy has appeared in most of our productions since The Crucible in 1986. He also appeared in: Many Young Men Of Twenty; Charley’s Aunt; Cash On Delivery and Moll. Tommy also had his own play Losers Get Nothing staged at the Ivy Leaf in 2003.
Hugh Jordan: Coming from Killarney and also performed with Dochas Drama Group. Hugh has appeared in: Many Young Men Of Twenty; Deeply Regretted By; Dancing At Lughnasa and Run for Your Wife.
Michael Burke: Michael has been involved with the group since 2008 and has appeared in: Deeply Regretted By; Moll: Rumours and in Run for Your Wife. He now appears as Richard in this production.
Mairead O’Mahony: Joined the group in 1997 for The Last Burning. Mairead has appeared in over twelve productions with the Island Players including: Sharon’s Grave; Sive; Rumours and Cash on Delivery.
She also produced The Last Apache Re-union for the Island Players along with plays for Mercy Mounthawk in Tralee.
Rosaleen Higgins: Rosaleen has been involved with the Ivyleaf for a number of years. This is her third appearance on stage at the Ivy Leaf. She played the part of Agnes in Dancing at Lughnasa and Suzanne in Don’t Dress for Dinner.
Redmond Roche: Since appearing in I Do Not Like Thee Dr. Fell in 1977 Redmond has appeared in: Trap For A Lonely Man; Rumours; Losers Get Nothing and Run For Your Wife.
Dan Kearney. An award winning broadcaster, Dan is making his debut appearance with The Island Players, he plays the part of Fergus in this production.
Trisha Higgins. Another new member on stage, she has been involved in set design for the group and also does set design for this play.
Brid O’Shea: Having previously starred in Run For Your Wife, this is Bríd’s second involvement with the group. She is also an accomplished musician and singer.
Jean Horgan. Since joining The Island Players in 1983 Jean has taken part on over 30 productions, including: Playboy of The Western World; The Crucible and The Field.
James McCarthy: Back after a break from the stage, James has taken part in The Field and Losers Get Nothing. He plays the part of Dad in this production.
Aidan Reidy: Aidan is the man with the mood and atmosphere of the theatre in his hands as the various plays demand changes in ambience and strokes of magic with lighting. Young JJ O’Connor has been giving him a hand lately and learning the tricks of the trade while him mom, Caroline engages with the rehearsals on stage.
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