‘WANTED - One Body’ by Charles Dyer
If you are looking for a good farce/comedy for your next production, it is well worthwhile to check out ‘WANTED – One Body’ by British playwright Charles Dyer. This is a great ‘audience’ play full of fun and frivolity that to my knowledge, has not been staged previously in this area. First produced in 1961, it has a cast of nine (5m/4f ).
The play is set on a stormy night ‘many years ago’ in the dilapidated mansion of the recently departed Charles Barraclough. The play has all the essentials of a typical ‘whodunnit’, but, with a couple of disappearing corpses, it turns from ‘thriller’ into a crazy mix of comedy and mystery.
Old Mr Barraclough has died, leaving his fortune to be divided between his two nasty and demanding stepdaughters - and his staff. When his body disappears and one of his stepdaughters also dies in mysterious circumstances, everyone is under suspicion - the cook, maid, the chauffeur, the secretary, the ghoulish undertaker, and a very strange doctor. All have motive and opportunity. Will a solicitor and his bumbling young clerk be able solve out the mystery?
Faith Barraclough has assumed her role as joint heiress and is determined to take control of the household. She is hard, vicious, demanding – and imposing, as is her sister Hope.
While they are both ambitious and callous, charm does come however, with the arrival of the solicitor (Mr Blundell) and his acolyte nephew (Mr Mickleby) - characters who deliver the one-liners and sight gags that lift the tenor and pace of the play.
Supporting them in this comic mayhem are the near-sighted, hardof-hearing Dr Brown and the dour, measured undertaker, Mr Sorrell. We also meet a rather feisty young servant girl along with an elegant but apparently much-wronged secretary. Throw in a very defiant chauffeur and the household cook, all adding immensely to the confusion and hilarity.
To enquire about the performing rights, the Drama League of Ireland should be able to help or go to www. josef-weinberger.com.
The AGM of the Fermoy Multiple Sclerosis Society took place online via Zoom on Sunday last, 21st February. It was an AGM with a difference, but then again everything has been different this past 12 months. We in Fermoy Multiple Sclerosis have adapted well.
The AGM commenced with the chairperson Joe Tobin welcoming everyone and introducing our guests, Triona Ni Rainne our branch development officer, Ava Battles CE of MS Ireland and Gabriel Flynn, branch accountant/auditor.
A comprehensive report was given by the secretary, Betty Moore on all branch activities in the region of North and East Cork for the past year.
This was followed by the treasurer’s report in which our treasurer, Marie Cronin outlined the finances. Our branch like all in the charity sector has seen all fundraising impacted by the pandemic restrictions, our income is down over 95% in the past year as we were unable to fundraise. However, we did manage to hold our virtual Galtee Walk in June and we are very grateful to all who engaged with this online and supported the MS community.
Chairman Joe in his address acknowledged that the year has been challenging but with everyone’s help we have arrived at this point to hold our AGM virtually. This is a huge achievement for all involved.
He asked all present to remember any person that have passed away over the last 12 months. “It has been a very hard time for anyone who lost a family member or closes friends in the mist of Covid-19, our prayers are with you all”, Joe said.
He thanked his fellow officers and committee members for all their hard working during 2020, the staff of MS Ireland for their continuing support enabling us to have a relevant online presence, the regional community workers who continue to work from home providing support to all our membership.
“It has been a difficult 12 months with the impact of Covid-19 on all our lives, we have seen many challenges to all our lives and a lot of adjustments. One that stands out for me is the mental health of us all, we have been separated from our families and friends this has not been easy, we must remember we are all at the end of the phone. I urge you all here today and the wider community and all our members to pick up the phone, make contact with each other, don’t feel alone or isolated, we can see light at the end of the tunnel”, he said.
He encouraged people to visit www.ms-society. ie where there’s many supports and information; also he suggested people should sign up to receive the MS newsletter. The Information Line is also available on 1850 233 233 (Monday to Friday 10am-2pm daily).
A thank you was extended to Cluain Dara Day Centre and Jim O’Connell, who kindly accommodated our committee meetings pre-Covid-19 restrictions.
Joe invited all present to join virtually for a chat and a cuppa after the business of the AGM was concluded. Triona presided over the election of officers: Incoming for 2021 - chairperson Joe Tobin; secretary Betty Moore; assistant secretary Pat Kelleher; treasurer Marie Cronin; assistant treasurer Majella Fitzgerald; delegate and PRO Mary Sheahan-Lonergan.
Ava thanked the branch for the tremendous work done in this different year we have just come through and thanked everyone for continuing to support the MS community in the North and East Cork branch area. We then had a Q&A session where people got the opportunity to ask questions on all topics related to MS.
Super thank you to all who participated and a sincere thank you to all our supporters and sponsors who make it possible for us to continue to provide services for the Multiple Sclerosis community.
We are always looking for people to join our energetic committee (and this is more accessible at present through the IT platforms like Zoom and can be done from the comfort of your own home), so if you would like to donate some of your time to the local Multiple Sclerosis group please contact either Joe (087-3234436) or Mary (087-6682834).