View from the Green Room: You just can’t beat good writing
Waterford Dramatic Society presents two one-act plays.
Waterford Dramatic Society continues its celebration of its ninetieth year with a couple of original one-act plays at the Gateway in Patrick’s St.
Almost a century of drama is a massive achievement by any standards. I’ve often said that keeping a society going is the hardest part of any performing arts journey. Just think of all the obstacles along the way. The passing of members, massive emigration, loss of interest, ill-health, family matters, Covid and the minor irritations of the War of Independence, the Civil War and World War 2 or, as it was known in this island, ‘the Emergency’. Life always gets in the way.
Tonight’s two one-acts are clever, imaginative, well-written with the emphasis squarely on the dynamic of relationships under strain. And both plays are written with new performers, writers and directors in mind. And I recall a very young Jim Nolan in 1979 winning a Waterford News & Star prize for a new one-act play – ‘The Flowers of May’ – that would be performed in the Theatre Royal.
Cavan’s arts loving playwright and psychotherapist Liz O’Hanlon is first up with an intriguing ‘Smile Handsome’ set in a women’s prison. O’Hanlon’s dramatic hooks continue throughout the drama as unpleasant truths emerge as the story pounds along. Judgement features heavily and unpleasant facts tumble out in confessional and confrontational conversations between the three inmates in a drama that veers between confrontation and black humour.
Vivienne Cummins is the newby to the cell block and she’s here for assault and battery of a young mother who left her baby in an unvented car in hot weather. Vivienne is superb as Kathleen, the Traveller mother who is forced to confront some unwelcome truths about her own failure as a young mother. Her feisty, uncompromising, in-yer-face attitude gradually crumbles before Lindsey Kirby’s neurotic, psychotic Top Dog whose other-wordly stare leaves everyone uneasy.
The dynamic of their relationship is the heart of the drama as each lives out their judgements under the cruel and indifferent scrutiny of the other.
Director Martina Kavanagh deputises for unavailable Claire O’Sullivan, as repeat offender Jodie whose meek and anxious-to-please manner seeks out compromise between Kathleen and Top Dog.
Liz O’Hanlon’s strong script, three superb performances and first-class direction make for an absorbing opening drama.
WDS’s Catherine Bradley has an absorbing two-hander that features Paul Barry and Denise Quinn, along with a cameo from high-viz-vest park attendant Bryan Costello.
Bradley’s ‘Views from a Lamp Post’ is as old as love itself. Kevin (Paul Barry) would have been happier if he’d married Mary (Denise Quinn), the woman he’s held a candle for all his married life. He’s been leaning on this same lamppost and crooning "in case a certain little lady passes by" for over half-a-century in the hope that his life will change. But…he really doesn’t have the resolve to make that decision.
Mary notices things. As women do. He’s been spending too much time in that chair since retirement and varicose veins along with high blood pressure tell their own story.
His wife Maeve has given up on him. She’s made all the suggestions to her moribund husband…pilates, yoga, leaflets, men’s shed, ballroom dancing! And lay off the drink. Now she’s getting on with her own life and he’s being left behind. And she wants to go to Australia.
Mary knows she’s the cuckoo in the nest and wants to reconcile with Maeve. "Bring Maeve with you the next time," she offers, "we’re not right…Maeve needs you."
The lamppost and their special bench are theirs. "This is our time…our lamppost…I couldn’t leave you…I love you, Mary, to the moon and back."
Catherine Bradley’s tale is a simple tale well told. A tale of what might have been. Although what might not have been is never factored in. Life has its own way of making us choose and Paul’s dilemma can never really be addressed. Maybe he would have been happier with Mary. But maybe he wouldn’t.
Paul Barry and Denise Quinn are superb as the lovers-that-never-were and Bardley’s tale of old love and an elderly couple is well told.
Well done WDS. I’m delighted that I journeyed with you a lifetime ago and it’s great to see new writing from Liz O’Hanlon and Catherine Bradley.
You just can’t beat good writing.
