College Players look to UCH for latest drama production
At the launch of the College Players forthcoming production, Leading Ladies, which will open at the University Concert Hall on February 29 were Padraig Hastingsa, Joan McGarry, director, Joan Sheehy and Nigel Dugdale.
Limerick’s oldest theatre company, College Players, is set to open a new chapter in its storied history when it opens it new production Leading Ladies at the end of the month.
The 86-year-old drama group announced this week that its annual production will take place for the first time ever in its history in the University Concert Hall.
The piece, by Ken Ludwig, is billed as a hilarious comedy featuring two down at heel Shakespearian actors who set out to pass themselves off as the beloved relatives of a millionairess.
Joan McGarry, director of Leading Ladies and long time College Players member, said it was a “laugh a minute” play.
“It is a hilarious comedy and is just great fun, that is the key to it,” she explained.
“It is hilarious but it is not pantomime, it is not over the top, it is great theatre. In these days of austerity and bad news it is lovely and you will be able to go in and laugh your head off at it.”
A top notch local cast has been assembled, featuring Nigel Dugdale and Dave Griffin as the leading ladies, as well as John Finn, Padraig Hastings, Jean McGlynn, Sinead O’Sullivan, Conor Ryan and May O’Halloran, the latter appearing on stage for the first time in over a decade.
“We have a terrific line-up of local talent, superb talent - it is a Rolls Royce cast, wonderful performers all of them,” said Joan.
College Players have been traditionally associated with the Belltable, but decided to move to the UCH to allow for a bigger production and have built a massive set for the play.
“The production demands multiple settings, not the least of which is this huge stately home, but also three other different sections, a garden, a railway station and then inside a theatre, so we needed to have space,” explained Joan.
Leading Ladies opens in the UCH on February 29 and runs until March 3. Book tickets on www.uch.ie.
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