View from the Green Room: Soilse, Ceamaraí, Aicsean
Aisteoiri an tSean Phobail actors and team pictured with arts correspondent Pat McEvoy and author Catherine Foley, right of photo.
There’s a new programme being produced by TG4 and it follows the production path of a short drama from page to stage. ‘An Breac sa Bhainne’ (The fly in the ointment) is a new script as Gaelige from Ring author Catherine Foley and the programme follows the scripting, casting, rehearsal and performance of the short one-act drama at Halla Colmáin in Old Parish on the Ring Peninsula.
Catherine is a well-known Waterford author. Her recent Green Room award-winning novel 'Beyond the Breakwater' tells the story of Catherine Foley's transition from childhood into adulthood. She chronicles her family's journey from Waterford city to the Ring Gaeltacht in 1970 and she monitors the shifting times of each successive decade, recalling individuals, relations, friends and communities she has known.
Catherine and her sister RoseAnn are no strangers to TV. She has scripted, presented and co-produced TV programmes with An Corsaiceach for TG4. These include documentaries with her sister RoseAnn Foley, including programmes about the writer Molly Keane, balladeer Tom Clancy, Waterford star Val Doonican and, of course, journalist and satirist Donal Foley, who wrote the ‘Man Bites Dog’ column with the Irish Times.
Catherine Foley is a remarkable commentator on relationships under pressure. ‘An Breac sa Bhainne’ (The fly in the ointment) tells the intriguing story of an unknown daughter who turns up to her birth-mother’s funeral and the fallout that ensues. Unknown blood relatives tumble out onto the floor of the tiny Naomh Colmáin stage like scattered hailstones. As you can imagine, the reactions vary from cautious welcome through denial to open hostility and the twists and turns of the plot are the dramatic hooks that keep any audience fascinated about the outcome.
There’s regret too for spurned daughter Gromlaith (Elaine O’Hara) whose only ‘crime’ was to become pregnant in an era that was hostile to unmarried mothers. Step-sister Hilde (Nuala Ní Riain) reconciles with the new reality, although her father Éimhear (John Flynn) is a bitter searbhán towards Gormlaith. Pádraig Innseadúin as Peadar, Domhnall Ó Murchú as an Seanathair, Geraldine Veale as an t-Adhlacóir Fíona and Tomás de Grás as an Sagart complete the cast, along with Siúbhán Nic Craith, whose evocative singing of Eochaill touched hearts.
The play was directed with pace and empathy by Pádraigín Ní Chadhla who presents An Saol Ó Dheas for TG4.
TG4 cameras have been all over this production. The writing, the preparations, the craic of rehearsals with Aisteoirí an tSeanphobail, backstage shenanigans. It’s called ‘Cúlstáitse I Halla Colmáin’ (Backstage in Halla Colmáin) and will screen sometime around Christmas on TG4. It’s a programme that will delight anyone who was ever involved, or even curious about, amateur drama. I’m delighted to have been involved in this production on the tiny stage of Halla Colmáin with the actors of Old Parish.
