Cashel cast deliver interesting and deeply nuanced play

Cashel Dramatic Society’s production of Maeve Binchy’s play - Deeply Regretted By - was as nuanced as the raw material.
Set in Kilburn in the London of the 1970’s the play deals with the fallout from the death of Mike Healy who leaves behind a wife and three children in London, and a wife and nine children in Mayo.

This only comes to light when his two brothers, Sean, played by John Joe Morrissey, and Liam, played by Willie Heaney, arrive in Kilburn to take the body back to Mayo.

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As the brothers and Mike’s English wife Stella, played by Carrie Kavanagh, try to come to terms with this bombshell they all look to Father Barry, played by Justin Irwin, for guidance and support.
The brothers expect him to abide by both the law of the church and the land as Mike was first married in Mayo. Stella is relying on their friendship over the years to allow her to bury Mike in Kilburn.

The priest agonises over what to do and teases it out with the skillful promptings of his indispensable secretary Jackie, played by Karen O’ Connor.

All human emotion is contained in this conundrum and the cast responds magnificently under the masterful direction of Oliver Corbett.

Willie and John Joes’s brothers convey the contrast between rural Ireland and the big city and temper their resolve with sympathy for Stellas plight.
Justin’s priest is torn between his humanity and a harsh reality. In the end, it is Stella, who despite her grief and hurt, decides to let Mike’s remains return to Mayo.

Carrie’s powerful performance reveals fully the strength of this ‘ordinary’ woman to take all the blows and not buckle.
You know that she will make the best of her circumstances and with the help of her friends such as Marlene, her salt of the earth neighbour, played with great gusto, by Nicola Watson, she will survive.

The cast is completed by a very competent PJ Myers and the versatile Averil Maher.
Deeply Regretted By was preceded by a playet -Shoppers by Jean McConnell- which featured Joan Kennedy and Sinead O’Grady in sparkling form in a comedy with a lovely twist.