Banteer Drama Group’s class act
THE Glen Theatre Drama Groups will swing back into action after the summer break this coming weekend with three performances of its latest production.
Since its establishment more than a quarter of a century ago the group has evolved into one of the most highly regarded of its kind in the county, regularly selling out shows at the Banteer theatre and at venues across the country.
This year has already proven to be a busy one for the group, who kicked off 2017 by treading the boards at three different venues with their acclaimed production of John B Keane’s classic play ‘ The Chastitute’.
They followed this up in the spring with a production of Sam Cree’s delightful farce ‘Second Honeymoon’, which played to sell out crowds at the Glen Theatre before going on tour to Cork’s Everyman Palace Theatre the Civic Theatre in Tallaght and Dublin’s Olympia Theatre.
More recently, the group competed in the Ballincollig Drama Festival with a one-act comedy ‘In Therapy’ written by their own Ann O’Connor, who starred in the play along with Gavin Farmer, Mary Casey and Denis O’Connell.
Ann went on to win the ‘Best Actress’ award for her role in the play, which will performed at the Glen Theatre on December 28 with proceeds going to the Visually Impaired Association.
For their latest the production the group have turned to the creative genius of the late British playwright and actor Derek Benfield, with their production of his much-loved comedy ‘Off the Hook’.
When Harold Spooks is sprung from prison in order to tell his gang where the loot is hidden in the Hook House Hotel, it appears that everything is going to plan. Unfortunately, and perhaps predictably, a case of mistaken identity means that its is the wrong Harold Spooks and he has now idea where the money is stashed.
As if that was not enough he is, to put it mildly a bit of an idiot, and liable to give the game away any minute.
Add to the confusion a wacky cast of extras including Norah the man-eating hotel manageress and the overly inquisitive Edna and you have the perfect recipe for a night of hilarious farce.
With an ensemble of actors under the direction of Cathy Bailey, herself no stranger to the stage having played key roles in several of the groups previous productions, ‘Off The Hook’ will run at the Glen Theatre on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 8pm.