FANTASTIC WEEKEND AT WEXFORD LITERARY FESTIVAL

On Friday night last the fourth annual Wexford Literary Festival kicked off with a magnificent night of drama at the Presentation Arts Centre with their newly introduced One Act Drama Award.

An excellent night of entertainment at its very best as Wexford Literary Festival and Enniscorthy Drama teamed up to stage the four shortlisted plays – Isherholz Calls by Kay Phillips from Arizona, Pitchfork by Kelby Guilfoyle from Tralee, Co Kerry, One Solitary Line by Neil Walden from Cheltenham and Chop by popular bloggar Nicola Cassidy.

The actors of Enniscorthy Drama Group did a marvellous job directing and performing the plays and judges Elizabeth Whyte, Tom Mooney and Alison Martin had a difficult decision choosing a winner but after much deliberation came to the conclusion that One Solitary Line - a Shakespearean-style piece packed with the most wonderfully descriptive cruel insults and exotic remarks came out on top.

All four plays were well staged and well performed from Isherholz Calls set in New York to the hilarious Pitchfork set on a farmyard in Kerry, to the very excellent Chop but One Solitary Line was flawless, extremely well written, well directed and very well performed by Gemma Delaney who also directed, and Teresa Boyle. Both girls gave it everything they had and could most definitely grace a straight Shakespearean production if Friday night was anything to go by.

Their diction, their movements, their facial expressions, their gestures, their stage presence, their superb acting - both ladies would do the bard of Avon proud and congratulations to them and to playwright Neil Walden who unfortunately couldn’t be there on the night but Gemma and Teresa were delighted to accept the award on his behalf.

Chairman of Wexford County Council Paddy Kavanagh performed the official opening of the Festival. Speaking to a full house at the Presentation, he said that from humble beginnings Wexford Literary Festival had gone global and his praise for the festival committee and Enniscorthy Drama was elaborate as he welcomed the addition of the Anthony Cronin Poetry Award and the One Act Drama Award.

Winning playwright received a cheque for €300 and the 2017 winner’s trophy. Short listed Kelby Guilfoyle and Nicola Cassidy were among the Presentation audience.