Awards bring drama festival to a close

The play was also an object lesson in design – a very simple set, characterised by excellent lighting and sound plot and just the right furnishings and properties, and rightly won the Alex Tyrrell cup.

As happens so often however, the audience did not agree with adjudicator Colin Dolley that Three Tall Women was its favourite play of the week, casting their season ticket holders’ vote instead for Newpoint Players’ The Field. This production had a very large cast, with excellent support from the host of small characters. However Mr Dolley did agree that the best performance of the week was that of Donal O’Hanlon who played the lead role of Bull McCabe.

The best actress award also went to a popular choice – Sara Donnelly as Emily Gibbs in Rosemary Drama Group’s Our Town. This actress captured the youth and enthusiasm of the young Emily beautifully, and then went on to show the maturity as the girl becomes a young woman. Again a large cast filled the McNeill Theatre stage.

In second place overall were Bart Players with Drama at Inish. Their “theatricals”, Con McAlister and Sanda Ardill were highly commended for their performances and the company was also awarded the Eva Harrison Trophy for Wardrobe.

From Clarence Players and Dancing at Lughnasa, Des Loughridge as Father Jack impressed the adjudicator who rewarded him with the Best Supporting Actor Cup, while Catherine Farrell as Mrs Butler in The Field took Best Supporting Actress Award.

My friend Fred Aicken who donated the Jaques Trophy for best moment of theatre would have been pleased that Colin Dolley selected a moment from Our Town for this award. It was in the third act, at the funeral sequence, when the now deceased Emily emerged in her shimmering white wedding dress from a host of black umbrellas carried by the mourners, to meet those who had passed away before her.

So overall, awards for most of the companies, and something for all sections of the audience to enjoy during the week. The final night was a bit of a disappointment, with a small audience for Unravelling the Ribbon. However it was understandable given the nature of the play – three women who are diagnosed and have to come to terms with breast cancer – but advance publicity was honest, and as a Festival all sorts of plays are included. Indeed the organisers can’t dictate what companies produce.

The last four festivals finish this Saturday night. To date there is no overall pattern – seven different productions have won seven different festivals, there are only six places at the final.

The Association of Ulster Drama Festivals meeting on March 29 will be an interesting one. We’ll keep you posted.