Four short plays set for Athlone Little Theatre stage

Hot on the heels of the sell-out success of Athlone Little Theatre’s recent acclaimed production of Noël Coward’s Present Laughter, the busy local community theatre group is preparing for its next show, which is an annual offering of its one-act programme entitled Four Short Plays.

This feast of drama, from November 27 to December 2, comprises four short one-act plays presenting an eclectic mix of engaging storylines embracing love, kindness, intrigue and comic misunderstanding and a combined cast of 19, including plenty of new talent.

History will be made during the run as two of the quartet present notable firsts. The Bishop’s Candlesticks by Scottish actor and playwright, Norman McKinnel, was the first play produced by Athlone Little Theatre after its foundation in 1936. This historic revival during the theatre's 90th anniversary year will be directed by Caroline Coyle.

The play is an adapted extract from the classic Les Misérables novel in which an escaped prisoner breaks into the home of the local bishop only to be humbled by the mercy shown to him. The story embraces the transformative power of love and kindness.

Labhartar Béarla Anseo is an Irish language comedy play written by Leon O’Broin. This drama, as Gaeilge, is the first Irish language play ever produced by Athlone Little Theatre and is sure to attract huge interest. Director Clive Darling promises there will be something to treasure and enjoy regardless of what level of Irish audiences have.

The hilarious comedy follows the frustrations of an Englishman who lands in an Irish-speaking hotel in pursuit of his eloping daughter and her vagabond boyfriend. A fake interpreter’s mistranslations lead to laugh-out-loud consequences.

New to the director’s chair are Brian Foy and Charlie Jean McKeown, who are no strangers to the Athlone stage, having acted in many of the group’s acclaimed productions in recent times.

Brian will direct Trifles, an American mystery play by Susan Glaspell set in the American Mid-West around the turn of the 20th century. The famous 1916 one-act drama was based on a real murder case the Pulitzer Prize-winning writer had covered as a journalist.

Meanwhile, Charlie Jean will direct Enemies, another American tale by Neith Boyce and Hutchins Hapgood. This short drama follows the cynical banter of a husband and wife as they endeavour to counter the boredom of their marriage.

Both of these plays were written and performed in 1916 by the newly formed Provincetown Players in Massachusetts, the company that gave a platform to a new generation of American playwrights, including the multi-award winner Eugene O’Neill.

This quartet of one-act plays promises to be a highly entertaining curtain-raiser for the Christmas party season, and with tickets just €15, it will be a great value night out full of laughs and new talent.

* The Four Short Plays run for six performances from Friday, 27 November to Wednesday, 2 December at 8pm, with a Sunday matinee only on November 29 at 3pm. Book online at www.athlonelittletheatre.ie or via Eventbrite.