St Patrick’s Drama Group, Westport, return to the stage once again with a revival of one of their most popular productions over the past 50 years, Michael Carey’s hit, Thy Will Be Done. This is the story of two brothers, and is set in the summer of 1998 in an old outhouse where Jack (Lennie Grimes ) has been living for nearly 40 years after falling out with his brother Peteen (Tony Varley ) who remained in the family home.
Peteen’s wife had already left him before her son Martin (Paul Dunning ) was born. In the middle is Bridie (Gertie Foley ) a local housekeeper who steers a course around the feuding brothers and the fun loving Martin, and is not slow to offer her own opinion on matters. This drama of family feuds, set in rural Ireland where religion is still strong and where marriage can either be difficult to attain or not work out at all, has many hilarious scenes with a sharp, witty, script and characters that will have you laughing out loud.
St Patrick’s Drama Group will honour its co-founder, Martin Curry, when it stages this play at Westport Town Hall Theatre from Wednesday, January 24 to Saturday, January 27.
Martin, together with Michael Collins, founded the group in 1963 and it staged its first play Daughter from Over the Water in November 1964. Martin was been involved in all the drama groups productions right up to his untimely death in August last year. Martin played many roles at many venues.
Although the play does not refer to a divine will, it is, nonetheless apt as Martin brought his vast experience and professionalism to the part of Peteen when Thy Will Be Done was originally staged in Westport and London in 2001 and 2002. The play itself is regarded by many as one of the most entertaining and rounded of recent Irish plays and it has been a firm favourite in amateur circles over the years. It has comedy, drama, poignancy, reality, a hint of romance, and a surprise ending, all carried along on a wonderful insightful script.
The cast of four includes Westport and Cushlough’s favourite, Lennie Grimes, who reprises his role of Jack, as does Gertie Foley her role as Bridie. Tony Varley, who played Martin in the original production, now takes over Martin Curry’s role as Peteen, while Paul Dunning plays the part of Peteen’s son, Martin. Fintan MacMahon directs and Rosaleen Heraty produces. Tickets are now on sale at Westport Town Hall Theatre.
