SEPTEMBER 1998
www.celtic-connection.com
Page 7
Stage Eireann Preparing Birthday Bash for Alice
By TOM O'SULLIVAN
ANCOUVER — Auditions were held August 22-23 for Irish comedy Happy Birthday, Dear Alice to be premiered by Stage Eireann in Vancouver Little Theatre starting November 15.
A reading for group members was held in the theatre on Saturday, followed as usual by one for the wider theatrical community on the Sunday. There was the customary good turnout for the first reading and a considerably larger one for the second, with the result that the play is now fully cast.
A surprise appearance was that of Mick Lynch, who was featured in a recent Celtic Connection for his leading role at the Calgary Irish Centre in another theatrical success from Ireland, The Course. This play will be re-staged by the Calgary group in Vancouver on October 10 at the James Cowan Theatre, Burnaby Village.
The bad news is that it was a serious work accident to his left hand which foiled Mick's plans to move to Calgary permanently with his family but leaves him here to complete his physiotherapy. The good news is that Mick can now take part in Stage Eireann's production of Alice.
The rest of the cast consists of Philomena Jordan, from the 1995 production of Sharon's Grave; Amber Northcut, most recently seen in Hugh Leonard's Summer; and longtime favourites Pat and Brenda Warren, the latter in the title role in Alice. The only newcomer to the group is Gil Hayward, whose fine performance many will remember from the recent production of Blood Brothers at the Metro Theatre.
Director Bill Forbes says he is well satisfied with the largely Irish cast. "If you're going to put on an Irish comedy, it's big help to have some Irish actors," he opined.
THE COURSE directed by Chris Kane of Claddagh Productions in Calgary, featured (L-R) Karen Haugh, Linda Haugh, Eamonn McMahon, Scott Ring and John Doyle.
Staging The Course ONE VERY in Vancouver B|G MESS
The UK premier of Primary Colours — a thinly disguised portrait of the first Clinton presidential campaign — recently took place at the Edinburgh International Film Festival.
Scots star Emma Thomson, who plays the wife of the presidential candidate was asked how she thought Hilary Clinton should have reacted to the Monica Lewinsky affair.
Emma said, "I try to avoid commenting on that, but Susan Stanton in the film would have smacked her husband round the chops and said You're an idiot. How are we going to get out of this mess?'"
— Scottie's Snippets
Tolkien's Masterpiece
Scottish actor Sean Connery is being tipped to play a leading role in the new film version of J.R.R. Tolkien's Celtic-mythology based fantasy Lord of the Rings. Connery's part in the spectacular film trilogy would be the wizard Gandalf, with Danny DeVito taking the role of the tiny Hobbit hero Bilbo Baggins or Frodo. Computer effects, which have already taken a year to develop, will be used to make actors look half their size to match Middle Earth dimensions in Tolkien's books. The film is being directed and produced by New Zealander Peter Jackson famed for his hit cult film Heavenly Creatures.
By MICK LYNCH
VANCOUVER — Cold, snowy Calgary, Alberta — a wonderful place to hang around on a construction site in the winter, if you like 40 below zero. That's where I spent last year trying to teach Albertans how to do it "my way," not Frank Sinatra's.
Someone in the Irish community found out that I was back in town after 14 years and lo and behold, I received a call from Christy Kane, a long-lost friend, asking if I was interested in taking part in a play called The Course being produced by Claddagh Productions.
Off I went down to the Irish Centre to read for a part and of course, I got the major part. After two weeks in rehearsal, I was starting to regret taking the role. I was wondering where I was going to find the time to remember 50,000 lines.
What happened next was actually a God-send. I injured my left hand, thus putting me out of the workforce and onto the stage, giving me lots of time to memorize the script.
The Calgary production of the Dublin-based Brendan O'Carroll play The Course was directed by Christy Kane and turned out to be a great success. Ironically, one of my lines in the play was "Statistics have shown that it is virtually impossible for anyone to go through their lives without at some stage having a major accident."
They say things happen for a
reason. Well, speaking from a positive point of view, this accident gave me three good things: First, the play went off without a hitch. Second, it slowed me down and allowed me to face my ghosts. Third, instead of moving my whole family to Calgary, I got to come home and stay in the most beautiful city in Canada — Vancouver, B.C.
Now that I'm back here, Christy called and asked if I would be interested in bringing The Course to Vancouver. I agreed and so now, local fans of Irish theatre will be able to see this play for one night only on October 10, a Saturday night, at The James Cowan Theatre in Burnaby. Don't miss this one. It's great.
Snapshot of Irish Theatre
DUBLIN — The 1998 Dublin Theatre Festival, to be held from October 5 to 17, will bring visitors a snapshot of Irish theatre at the end of the Twentieth Century with works from writers such as Brian Friel, Marina Carr, Paul Mercier and Jim Nolan.
The international program is a breakneck tour of some of the most talked about artists working on the international scene ranging from a spectacular Spanish flamenco Carmen to the first visit to Dublin of the acclaimed Maly Theatre of St. Petersburg.
KERRISDALE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
2733 W. 41st Avenue, Vancouver B.C. V6N 3C5 Telephone (604) 261-1434 Fax: (604) 261-1407 E-mail acersand@aol.com I
You arc invited to evening worship in the style of the lona Community exploring traditions of Celtic Spirituality
Services are held the 4th Sunday of each month September 27, October 25, November 22, December 27
Stage €arearm Dramatic Soclctq
(Vancouver's own Irish Theatre Group)
DONT MISS OUR FALL PRODUCTION November 18-21and 24-28 at Vancouver's Little Theatre of the Great New Irish Comedy: "HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEAR ALICE" by Bernard Farrell
For more information or if you would like to help with the production
Please contact: Veronica Stabler (604) 731-8779
RENDAN O'CARROLL
Xour$e
Claddagh Reductions
Presents: The (Bourse T3yT3rendan ©'Carroll
Put six no-hopers in a classroom, add a teacher who is a conman, stir in a little Positive Mental Attitude and what do you get? A barrel of laughs, a dash of wisdom and - eventually - six winners.
"A great show"
Gay Byrne The Late, Late Show
"This massively funny romp is winner all the way. It would be a crime to miss it."
Liverpool Echo
"Tears ran down my face with laugher - brilliant."
Manchester Evening News
Directed by: Christopher Kane
Warning: Coarse Language
Exclusive Limited Engagement
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10 James Cowan Theatre at the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts, Burnaby Village
Tickets $13 each - Available at: Celtic Creations, Lonsdale Quay, North Vancouver Oscars Books, 153 West Broadway @Granville
FOR MORE INFORMATION: CALL (604) 224-4821
SPONSORED BY: