Lots of dates for ‘Calendar Girls’

6 nights and counting - the 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th and 19th April. Every night completely sold out. Things don’t get much better than that for members of The Ballindangan Players and joint directors of

Calendar Girls, John O’Doherty and Pat Landers. In great form when we met them on Tuesday evening (18th), Pat said the public had helped make the show a runaway success.

“We’ve a great cast, everyone went all out to make it the best show possible and the public’s reaction has been incredible,” Pat said, during the show’s interval.

The cast he’s referring to are mainly female and very accomplished. In no particular order: Ursula Flynn (Cora), Linda Murphy (Annie), Mary Gallahue (Chris), Eileen Harrington (Jessie), Michelle Hennessy (Celia), Sharon O’Carroll (Marie), Siobhan O’Donnell (Ruth), Tina Carton (Brenda Hulse), Grace Courtney (Elaine), John O’Doherty (John), Batt Power (Rod), Micheal O’Doherty and David Condon. The only person we’ve left out is Dorothy Dunne - the wife of the late, great, Tim Dunne - for so long the heartbeat of The Ballindangan Players. In the autumn of her acting career, it would be have been easy for Dorothy to take a back seat, however, in true showbiz tradition, Dorothy is playing the colourful role of Lady Cravenshire - and doing a splendid job we’re told.

LOSING THEIR CLOTHES TO GAIN FUNDS

The story of Calendar Girls is pretty well known - a scheme by a group of women to pose nude for a calendar in the hope of raising funds for their local hospital. What may not be as well known, is that it’s based on a true story. Readers of TheAvondhu will be relieved to learn that Ballindangan’s Calendar Girls are reasonably well clad for the show, with not too much in the way of middle aged flesh exposed. For all that, the play romps along at a great pace, with no end of highs and lows.

TEAM BALLINDANGAN

As already mentioned, directing is shared between John O’Doherty and Pat Landers, with lighting and sound entrusted to the very experienced Donie O’Sullivan. The set was constructed by Jim and Patrick O’Brien. The hectic job of keeping tabs on ticket sales was handled very ably by Nell Coughlan and Margaret O’Brien. Stage assistants were: Sinead O’Brien, Sinead O’Sullivan and Tina Carton.

Of great help during the many nights of rehearsals were, Colette O’Brien and that very famous Ballindangan woman, Anne Baker. A recording of the show was made by Paul Cotter. A special mention must go to Michelle Guilfoyle, the always helpful manager of the Ozanam Centre in Mitchelstown, who sourced a variety of props for the show.

TWO VERY GOOD CAUSES BENEFIT

Opening night proceeds went to The Breeda McGrath Memorial Fund and the Cork Domestic Violence Project. There are pictures of these groups receiving their money, which will be forwarded to TheAvondhu in due course.

Plenty dates for the Calendar Girls, plenty of money raised and plenty of laughs for the hundreds who’ve seen and really enjoyed a top class production.

(Pic: John Ahern) Supporting The Ballindangan Players production, ‘Calendar Girls’, were Kevin McSweeney, Ciara Landers, Shauna O’Sullivan and Karen Lynch.

(Pic: John Ahern) MANY HANDS: Some of those who assisted during ‘Calendar Girls’, which has attracted full houses to Ballindangan Community Centre, l-r: Betty Condon, Niamh Landers, Nell Coughlan, Margaret O’Brien, Una Howard and Tara O’Doherty.

(Pic: John Ahern) Cork Domestic Violence Project representative, Tara O’Doherty, with Dorothy Dunne, who played the part of Lady Cravenshire in The Ballindangan Players’ production, ‘Calendar Girls’. The Cork charity benefitted from the opening night of the play.

(Pic: John Ahern) Pictured during the interval of ‘Calendar Girls’, which enjoyed a great run in Ballindangan Community Centre, were l-r: David O’Sullivan, Samuel Hunter, David Landers and Meera Landers.

(Pic: John Ahern) TEAM EFFORT: Directors, Pat Landers and John O’Doherty, whose production of ‘Calendar Girls’ has been a massive success.