Tullamore Amateur Dramatic Society's "Summer Shorts" series continues tonight

VETERAN thespian Fionnuala Corrigan has returned to the stage after a 20-year absence to play a starring role in one of three plays currently being presented by Tullamore Amateur Dramatic Society (TADS) in Esker Arts Centre.

Fionnuala plays one of three sisters in "Dead Man's Bell", a new one-act play by Méabh de Brún, which the Tribune was priviliged to have a dress rehearsal seat at on Monday night last prior to its opening this evening.

The play is part of TADS's innovative "Summer Shorts" series, and the Tribune was also lucky to sit in on the performance of Dermot Muldowney's "Congratulations Peggy Mackey".

Unfortunately, the third one-act production, "28 Down, 8 Letters, by Julie Johnson, was not performed at Monday's dress rehearsal, but if it lives up to the high standards of the other two then it will prove a firm favourite with audiences.

"Summer Shorts" opened in Esker Arts Centre on Tuesday, and continues until this Thursday, July 3, with tickets available at eskerarts.ie for just €10.

"Dead Man's Bells", directed by Durrow's Frank O'Brien, is a tale of land, death, wills and sibling relationships, which relates a story all families will be familiar with to some extent, especially those from a farming background.

The one-act play features a set of just four chairs – one of which remains permanently empty. The stark set proves surprisingly effective as the story moves from the family home to the local church and back again.

Fionnuala Corrigan plays the youngest sister, a chain-smoking, college educated farmer's daughter who has escaped a mundane rural existence as has the middle sister, played by Laura Molloy, a Kilcormac native who now lives in Tullamore.

Longford born and Tullamore resident, Jacinta Dillon – a mainstay of TADS productions for some time – is the eldest sister, whose sheer force of personality dictates much of the storyline.

All three actors are versatile and passionate in their roles and capture the differing personalities of the sisters who have to come to terms with death and tragedy in the family.

Influenced by Jacinta, the trio come up with a cunning plan to serve their interests but fate intervenes and all seems set for a happy ending for the siblings.

But there's an unexpected twist which changes everything for the country girls – you'll have to get a ticket for the production to find out!

Looming over the play's plot throughout is the sisters' brother, Tom, who is variously described as "the brother working hard in the fields", "the man of the house" and the "loosed hipped lothario".

In the second play, well-known Tullamore man, Colin McDonnell makes his stage debut in "Congratulations Peggy Mackey", confidently playing a local radio current affairs host, Michael.

We meet him as he prepares to interview a newly-elected Independent TD who has captured her seat in a by-election, Marguerite McCabe, portrayed by Margaret Dunne.

Michael is the star of Radio LOW (standing for Laois Offaly Westmeath) and his show is appropriately titled, "LOWdown".

Margaret is brilliant at capturing the persona of the sleveen politician with a past and Colin, is ideal in the role of the broadcaster adept at winding up and angering the pompous new TD.

We learn that the duo have a past history and things get a bit out of hand as the interview progresses.

The show also introduces a new concept – which could be introduced by local and national radio around the country – in the form of a "shite alert" when the interviewee is waffling on continuously saying nothing. Needless to say the new TD falls foul of the concept.

"Congratulations Peggy Mackey" is, at times, an authentic portrayal of local radio and local politics and will provide food for thought for theatre goers,

The one-act play is directed and written by Dermot Muldowney, originally from Portlaoise, who joined TADS many years ago. Most recently he has been on stage in Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream", and he is also active with Laois Open Door drama group.

The third play – which the Tribune did not get the opportunity to view – is Julie Johnson's "28 Down, 8 Letters".

It stars Clara's Paddy Broder as Patrick, in his second stage outing with TADS and Hazel Cullen as Joyce. Paddy previously starred in TADS' “The Incarnation of the Prodigal Son”.

The production is directed by another Clara native, Frances Doyle, her first time in such a demanding role.

The play's plot centres on the consequences of past decisions – something which will surely get audiences thinking.

"Summer Shorts" runs in Esker Arts until this Thursday, July 3.

READ NEXT: All welcome to join walking tour of two Tullamore streets this Saturday

READ NEXT: Anniversary of world record marked at Tullamore Tennis Club