Wednesday 23rd April

HOLYCROSS/BALLYCAHILL DRAMA GROUP

presents

 "Absent Friends"

by ALAN AYCKBOURN

(by kind permission of Samuel French Ltd./DLI Agents)

CAST

Diana ......................................................................................................... Geraldine Henchion

Evelyn................................................................................................................. Joanne Cleere

Marge........................................................................................................................ Claire Ryan

Paul.................................................................................................................. Tommy Lannigan

John,..................................................................................................................... Martin O'Neill

Colin...................................................................................................................... Gerry O'Hagan  

Director: Pat McGrath

Producer: Karys Welby

Stage Manager: Diane Lacey

Lighting: Fiona O'Hagan

Sound: Karys Welby

Set Design: Andy Slattery, Pat McGrath, Tomas McGrath

Set Crew: Jim Holloran, Paddy Connolly, Crispin Welby, John Henchion, Michael O'Brien.

Continuity: Sally O'Rourke

Make-up: Peg Ryan, Peg Cooke.

The Play: Colin's friends are determined to comfort him in his grief over the death of his fiancee - a girl they have never met. They arrange a tea party for him and are understandably on edge, wondering what to say to him as they await his arrival. Their unease, however, has deeper roots as they are all kept together by a mixture of business and cross-marital emotional ties, and by the time Colin arrives their tension contrasts dramatically with his cheerfully relaxed air.
The Group: In existence for well over thirty years, the group has competed and won many festivals all over Ireland. We have reached the All-Ireland Confined Finals on many occasions, picking up several directing, acting and setting awards along the way. We have performed and staged critically acclaimed productions from "Sive" by John B. Keane, "Run For Your Wife" by Ray Cooney to "Murder In The Cathedral" by T.5. Eliot.