Clanabogan Drama Circle set to raise the curtain on riotous Irish farce

THE stage lights are about to shine once again for Clanabogan Drama Circle, as the popular local theatre group returns after a two-year break with a revival of the uproarious Irish comedy The Patrick Pearse Motel by acclaimed playwright Hugh Leonard.

And if past performances are anything to go by, audiences in Omagh can expect an evening packed with laughter, mistaken identities and plenty of classic farce.

The production will run for three nights only at St Joseph’s Hall on Thursday March 26, Saturday March 28 and Sunday March 29, with the curtain rising at 8pm each night.

For Clanabogan Drama Circle, this production marks a long-awaited return to the stage. The company last staged the play in 2002, when it proved a major success on the amateur drama festival circuit, collecting multiple awards along the way.

Now, more than two decades later, the beloved comedy is back - and once again under the guidance of director Niall P. Colgan, who produced and directed the original 2002 version. The show also marks his return to the drama circle for the first time since 2009.

For theatre lovers, it’s a reunion worth applauding before the curtain even rises.

Set in 1970s Ireland, the play centres on two businessmen preparing to open their brand-new venture - the Patrick Pearse Motel - where every room is named after a famous Irish hero.

But before the motel even opens its doors, things start going spectacularly off the rails.

Dermod Gibbon (played by Jarlath McElholm) and his business partner Fintan Kinnore (Gerald McKenna) think they have everything under control - until their wives become involved in a series of secret plans, unexpected reunions and questionable alibis.

Dermod’s glamorous wife Grainne (Angela Mary-Rose) decides to rekindle an old romance with television personality James Usheen (Liam Moore), while Fintan’s long-suffering partner Niamh (Mary Thornton) gets drawn into the unfolding mischief.

Before long, the entire cast finds themselves converging on the as-yet unopened motel, where crossed wires, slamming doors and mistaken intentions lead to pure comic chaos.

Throw in a formidable new manageress, Miss Manning (Danielle Thornton), and the slightly eccentric night watchman Hoolihan (Seamus McQuaid), and the result is a fast-paced comedy where the confusion only grows — and the laughter grows louder.

While the actors will be delivering the laughs on stage, a dedicated backstage team has been working hard to bring the world of the Patrick Pearse Motel to life.

The impressive stage sets have been designed and built by Gerry Quinn and Brian Thornton, with decoration and painting carried out by Ann Stacher and Gerald McKenna.

Props and furnishings are provided by Mary Bradley, Geraldine McLaughlin and Ann Stacher, who also form part of the stage crew alongside Marie Hague.

Sound effects are handled by Brendan Devlin, while lighting design comes from Justin O’Doherty and Eddie Fitzpatrick. Laura Quinn ensures continuity, and the fast-moving production is kept firmly on track by stage manager Sean Lynam.

Clanabogan Drama Circle has also paid tribute to the many people and organisations who helped make the production possible.

Special thanks have been extended to Drumragh Sarsfields GAC and Cappagh Parish for providing rehearsal facilities, along with Brian Browne, caretaker of Killyclogher Parish Hall. The company also acknowledged the support of St Joseph’s Hall users and caretaker Kenny Clarke during the preparation for the show.

Publicity for the production has been coordinated by Emma Pearson.

With a classic Irish farce, a talented local cast and a production team working flat-out behind the scenes, all the ingredients are in place for an unforgettable night of theatre.

Whether you remember the award-winning 2002 production or you’re seeing the play for the very first time, audiences can expect a fast-moving comedy where the laughs come thick and fast.

After all, when it comes to the Patrick Pearse Motel, checking in is easy - but checking out without a few belly laughs is almost impossible.