Tipperary drama group stages 'Out of Order' as classic British farce delights audiences

​Killoran Community Centre was transformed into a pressure cooker of political scandal and comic chaos this April, as Killoran Drama Group staged Ray Cooney’s ‘Out of Order’, a tightly wound farce in which one ill judged moment sets off a chain reaction of deception, panic, and increasingly desperate improvisation.

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Audiences were drawn into a world where appearances must be maintained at all costs, truth becomes negotiable, and control slips away one complication after another.

The production ran over two weekends, with performances on April 10th, 11th and 12th, followed by April 16th, 17th and 19th, amounting to a staggering six nights on stage.

‘Out of Order' is a classic British farce set in a London hotel suite during an all night sitting of Parliament. The story centres on Government Minister Richard Willey, who arranges a secret meeting with Jane Worthington, the secretary of the Opposition Leader.

What begins as a discreet attempt at an affair quickly unravels when a dead body is discovered in the hotel suite. Willey, desperate to avoid scandal, is forced into a series of increasingly frantic cover ups, assisted by his nervous private secretary George Pigden, as the situation spirals into a web of lies, interruptions, and mounting chaos.

The production was driven by a strong ensemble cast whose timing and energy sustained the tightly controlled rhythm of the play.

Dinny Hogan gave a confident and increasingly frantic performance as Government Minister Richard Willey, fully embracing the character’s roguish and bombastic energy as he powered through one crisis after another.

His portrayal highlighted Willey’s spontaneity, constantly devising new schemes as each attempt at control collapsed.

Shane McElroy’s George Pigden was played with exquisite comedic precision. Delivering a keen sense of the character’s squeamish nature. He worked particularly well alongside Dinny Hogan, with their exchanges amplifying the sense of mounting panic, as Pigden becomes the unwilling pawn caught in the centre of Willey’s escalating mess.

The play was complemented by a strong supporting cast. Regina Kelly brought clarity and poise to Jane Worthington, combining sharp comic timing with the emotional entanglement at the centre of the story.

Ronan O’Driscoll delivered standout physical comedy in the role of the dead body and private eye, with well timed slapstick as he was repeatedly manhandled and hurled around the stage.

Sean Creamer, as the hotel manager, was effective as the authority figure providing a steady comic contrast to the unfolding chaos. Fergal Hayes portrayed Ronnie Worthington with strong suspicion and well judged interruptions, while Noreen Walsh as Pamela added steady pressure to the collapsing situation.

Sarah Creed O’Connor brought crisp detail to Nurse Gladys Foster, heightening the sense of intrusion. Edward O’Sullivan, as the waiter, was very funny throughout, a persistent nuisance constantly seeking tips and adding further disruption.

Kaitlyn Conroy, JJ Mulready, and Dave Moloney completed the ensemble, with JJ and Dave’s handling of the troublesome window becoming a recurring comic device, as it repeatedly caused mishaps and knocked characters unconscious, adding a sharp physical running gag to the production’s escalating mayhem.

The production was very well imagined by director Michael Gleeson, who executed an entertaining staging of Cooney’s farce. Strong set design by Michael Donnellan, Paul Quinn and Paddy Moroney, along with effective sound effects by Philo Freeman, helped create a convincing theatrical world.

Supported by producer Pauline O’Reilly with a committed backstage and technical team, the group delivered a sharp, fast moving farce that delighted audiences.

Due to popular demand the production will run for an extra night on Saturday the 25th of April at 8pm in Killoran Community Centre. 

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