Schull Drama Group will be staging Last of the Red Hot Lovers in Skibbereen Town Hall on February 24th for one night only. Curtain is at 8 pm. Admission is €10. Concessions are available for seniors and students.

Last of the Red Hot Lovers is one of the most amusing of Neil Simon’s comedies. The play is set in the 60’s, and we have situated it somewhere in the South of England. It focuses on Barney Cashman – middle-aged, married and overworked – as he begins to feel a desire for sexual adventure. Over a nine month period, he invites three women to his mother’s apartment to have an afternoon of extramarital sex. The first, Elaine Navazio, proves to be a bundle of neuroses; Bobbi Michele is next, a kooky 20-ish actress; finally Jeanette Fisher, a gloomy, depressed housewife who is married to Barney’s best friend. Will Barney’s attempts at seduction be successful?

Founded in 1980, Schull Drama Group is now a vibrant and dynamic company of 60 plus members. Over the years they have tackled a wide range of projects: plays, musicals, pantomimes, street theatre and workshops. They continue to strive for excellence, and to push themselves with entertaining and exciting projects. They have been competing on the drama festival circuit for many years and will be touring this play to seven festivals in March.

We look forward to welcoming you in Skibbereen for what promises to be a very entertaining evening. Contact number 086 8785304. Follow us on Facebook facebook.com/schulldrama/

Taking part in Skibbereen Theatre Society’s production of ‘Lovers at Versailles’ by Bernard Farrell, which will be staged in Skibbereen Town Hall this Friday, Saturday and Sunday and again the following weekend, are – from left – Kevin Cadogan, Carmel O’Driscoll, Mary O’Driscoll and Kieran Daly.

Skibbereen Theatre Society’s Spring production, Lovers at Versailles by Bernard Farrell, opens at the Town Hall, Skibbereen, on Friday, February 10th. This year, the group has decided to take a year out from the drama festival circuit and concentrate on a ‘home’ production. Consequently, there will be just the one run of this laugh-a-minute comedy – so no second chance to see it after the drama festivals are over! Lovers at Versailles will run for six nights over two consecutive weekends Friday 10th, Saturday 11th and Sunday, February 12th, as well as Friday 17th, Saturday 18th and Sunday, February 19th.

The play examines the plight of three women who are left behind when Stephen Sullivan dies. His wife, Clara, always suspected that Stephen had a hidden life. His daughter, Isobel, is determined to use every opportunity to move up the social ladder, and Anna, Stephen’s favourite daughter, is offered a second chance at happiness.

Throw into the mix Farrell’s off-the-wall sense of humour, along with some unexpected twists and turns, and audiences should enjoy a great night’s fun.

The cast has some regulars with quite a few new faces to the Skibbereen stage. Directed by Fachtna O’Driscoll, the lead roles are played by Sarah McCarthy, Mary O’Driscoll, Jason Moloney, Kieran Daly, Carmel O’Driscoll, Kevin Cadogan, Terri Kearney and Niamh Woods. There are quite a few ‘extras’ with some familiar and some not-so-familiar Skibbereen faces appearing throughout!

The stage crew of Charlie Keohane, Gearoid MacEoin, Con Minihane and Fachtna Hamilton, under the watchful eye of technical director Barty Connolly, has come up with a few surprises for the audience. John Hegarty and Gearoid MacEoin have devised an imaginative lighting plot.

Sound recording was by Sacha Puttnam and the sound system will be operated by Hilda Hegarty. Stage management is done by Sinead Cripps and Una Murray.

As usual, bookings are through Thornhills Electrical and sales are sure to be brisk for a play that is novel in structure and hilariously funny.

* An upcoming production visiting Skibbereen Town Hall is The Successful TD, based on the writings of John B Keane and starring Mary McEvoy of Glenroe fame and Jon Kenny of D’Unbelievables, which will be playing there on Friday, March 10th next, for one night only. It is currently on stage at the Gaeity Theatre in Dublin to great reviews and advance booking is recommended for the forthcoming Skibbereen show.