Galway audiences will have two last opportunities to see the awardwinning Compántas Lir production of the classic play Johnny Belinda when it is performed in the Town Hall Theatre this weekend.
Fresh from winning a record-equalling five drama festivals around the country, the group has qualified for the All-Ireland drama finals to be held at the end of this month.
In what will be their final Galway performances of the play before it take part in the All-Ireland, the play will be staged at the Town Hall for a two-night run tomorrow Friday April 3 and Saturday April 4.
In the seven festivals, eight acting awards were won by actress Ruth O’Driscoll who plays the role of the deaf mute girl enduring a brutal existence in a rural Nova Scotia village in the early years of the last century.
However her life changes when she is befriended by a a caring doctor who strives to help her understand the savage world around her.
The play is a classic on the drama circuit but has not been performed for many years and its reappearance on the circuit this year has led to much success for the Claregalway-Carnmore group, under the direction of Brid Conneely.
Needing only two wins to qualify for the All-Ireland drama finals, the group won a record-equalling five festivals around the country and picked up a host of awards for many of the main actors, as well as for set, and lighting.
The full cast of the performance is Ruth O’Driscoll as Belinda, Declan Varley as Dr Jack, Philip Cribbin as Black McDonald, Vincent Moran at Locky McCormick, Fidelma O’Rourke as Maggie McDonald, Sile Mannion as Stella Maguire, Patsy Cahalan at Jimmy Dingwell, Paddy Greaney as Father Tidmarsh, Mary McCarthy as Mrs McKee, Breda Hannon as Mrs Lutz, and features dancing from Simon Kavanagh, Liz Hession, and Ann Moran.
Tickets still remain for this weekend's performances of Johnny Belinda and can be purchased at the Town Hall Theatre box office at (091 ) 569777 or on their website www.tht.ie Tickets are priced at €15 and €12 respectively.
