TREADING THE BOARDS:MEM Players takecentre stage inCo. WestmeathSINCE MEM Players was setup in 1997 by a group ofamateur drama enthusiastsfrom the Milltown, Emper<strong>and</strong> Moyvore areas of CoWestmeath the group hasbecome a regular feature ofthe performance calendar inthe county.But, the history of the group predatesits official launch as it was born out ofthe Milltown Drama Group which wasa very successful amateur dramagroup in the 1970s. It took part inmany drama festivals at the time <strong>and</strong>won numerous awards, most notably,in 1976, the Coole Drama Festivalwith the Three Act Comedy TroubledBatchelors by A J Stanley. Following abreak in the 1980s <strong>and</strong> 1990s, thegroup was re-invented as the MEMPlayers by some of original membersof the Miltown Drama Group <strong>and</strong> somenewcomers.The group plays a crucial role inencouraging interest from the youth ofthe area in the art form. Drama isintroduced to the children in the localNational School with weekly visitsfrom Mullingar based drama teacherOlive Whelan. They are furtherencouraged as teenagers through thelocal Foroige Group. Also, one of thegroup’s members produces a noveltyact <strong>and</strong> recitation for the Scor na nÓgcompetition each year. Some membersare secondary school students whoare being encouraged to get involvedinitially backstage with a v<strong>ie</strong>w to introducingthem to the cast in the future.Each year, MEM Players stage aproduction over three nights <strong>and</strong>, inearl<strong>ie</strong>r years, productions were stagedin the old parish hall. Now the grouphas a larger <strong>and</strong> more modern venuein the new Milltown Community Centre,just a 15 minute drive from Mullingar<strong>and</strong> a mile from the village ofRathconrath on the Ballymahon Roadbeside the local GAA football pitch.Recent productions from the MEMPlayers include My Wife’s Family byHal Stephens & Harry B Linton, aswell as a number of plays by12Cast of Widows ParadiseRathowen playwright, Jimmy Keary -Where There is a Will, Up the GardenPath, Mother Knows Best, HereComes the Bride <strong>and</strong> Fortunes &Misfortunes. Last year was the firstyear the players benefited from PaulCurley’s exper<strong>ie</strong>nce <strong>and</strong> knowledge ofamateur drama when he produced theSam Cree Three Act Comedy CupidWore Skirts.In 2010, the group had anothersuccessful production by Paul withanother Three Act Comedy by SamCree, Widow’s Paradise. Widows’Paradise is set on a Friday evening inSeptember in the 1960s in a caravan.The story centres around a group offive women who go to a caravan parkfor a weekend break where theirintention to have a qu<strong>ie</strong>t weekendalone is upset by the arrival of threemen who are on a fishing trip. Apassing traveller calls in when his carbreaks down <strong>and</strong> the local farmer alsopays a visit. There are no shortage ofdisagreements <strong>and</strong> misunderst<strong>and</strong>ings,all providing hilarious consequences.“This has been a new direction for ourset design team, who have put all of theirexpertise together to produce a fantasticset,” explained the MEM Players.But, MEM Players really is a teameffort because as well as castmembers each production has aprofessional back room teamcomprising of hairdresser, makeupartist, costume designers, lighting <strong>and</strong>sound technicians, stage designers<strong>and</strong> stage h<strong>and</strong>s.Members have participated in variousdrama workshops, some of which wereheld exclusively for MEM Players <strong>and</strong>others which involve members fromother amateur drama groups.Last year two members of the groupreceived a bursary from WestmeathCounty Council to take part in aDrama League of Irel<strong>and</strong> SummerSchool week in Limerick where theygained valuable insights which theythen shared with the rest of the group.Preparations are now underway for thenext production scheduled for Spring2011. New members <strong>and</strong> anyone withan interest in amateur drama <strong>and</strong>would like to get involved either onstage or behind the scenes are invitedto contact any member of the group.TADS HalloweenParty with adifferenceCHARLEVILLE Forest Castle, astark edifice st<strong>and</strong>ing silently inits wooded estate, populated byghosts, much visited by tourists<strong>and</strong> now…frequented by…actors!When it comes to any old building,rumours of haunting abound, butCharleville has recently been hauntedby a different breed of spectre –Tullamore Amateur Drama Soc<strong>ie</strong>ty(TADS) which held a spookfest therelast Halloween.“It was mainly to raise awarenessof TADS in the town,” said DeniseKeoghan, Chairperson. “We had hada successful run with An Evening ofFunny Conversations in Hugh Lynch’slast May <strong>and</strong> we have a core group ofnew, enthusiastic members. Halloweenwas close when we decided to dosomething new <strong>and</strong> it was a naturaldecision to base our next productionin the Castle.”Guests at the party weremet by the screams of acoven of Shakespeareanwitches at the door.A stream of sheikhs, vampires,ghosts, pirates, witches, Cleopatra,Cruella deVille, Snow White, Minn<strong>ie</strong>Mouse <strong>and</strong> one distinguished manwearing a ducal coronet all ascendedthe broad staircase to the ballroomon the first floor mezzanine wheremost of the action was taking place.Tickets for paranormal tours of thecastle, which is allegedly haunted,were distributed throughout the night.The music, drinks, food <strong>and</strong> dancingtook place in the majestic ballroomwhere the spectacular ceiling, largefireplaces <strong>and</strong> tall gilt-framed mirrorslent an air of antique elegance <strong>and</strong>baroque decay to the affair.There were sketches, scenes frompopular mov<strong>ie</strong>s, poetry <strong>and</strong> dance.Seanchaí John Gaffey thrilled theguests to spooky tales by the fire.Two original playlets, Weak Tea <strong>and</strong>TOADS, written <strong>and</strong> directed byTADS’ members Marguerite Cahill<strong>and</strong> Paul Farrell were also performedin other rooms.Two guides in period costumewere on h<strong>and</strong> to help with the toursof the castle <strong>and</strong>, in a demonstrationof their diverse talents, one of theseguides treated those in attendanceto an exhibition of Middle Easterndance later in the evening.Not only was the event a showcasefor the diverse talent of TADSmembers <strong>and</strong> the beauty <strong>and</strong>elegance of the castle, it was also areunion for those TADS membersfrom the 80s, 90s <strong>and</strong> even the socallednaught<strong>ie</strong>s who had lost touchwith the group.A slideshow of past dramaticendeavours, old programmes <strong>and</strong>photos from rehearsals wasdisplayed throughout the night.A presentation was made to formerChairpersons Mary Dunne <strong>and</strong>Fionnuala Corrigan in recognition oftheir past ach<strong>ie</strong>vements in thepioneer years of the group. Fionnualawas recognised for her sterling workin the lead up to the allocation of thenew Tullamore <strong>Arts</strong> Centre site.“This event was a credit to TADS,”one guest enthused. “It was very wellput together <strong>and</strong> everyone enjoyedthemselves. The costumes were verygood <strong>and</strong> the plays <strong>and</strong> poetry wereexcellent.”It is hoped that this event haspaved the way for many similarevents in the future <strong>and</strong> that with thenew <strong>Arts</strong> Centre in the offing morepeople will become members <strong>and</strong>patrons of TADS <strong>and</strong> help speed thegroup to its next ‘scene-change’.TADS would like to express itsthanks to the Findlater Wine <strong>and</strong>Spirit Group, the Tullamore DewHeritage Centre, Eugene Kelly’s <strong>and</strong>Hugh Lynch’s for their generous help<strong>and</strong> sponsorship.Adults wishing to join TADS orneeding information on any of itsactivit<strong>ie</strong>s should contact SusanMcDonnell on 089 4365266.SPOOKY: Members from TADS dressed to impress.
CULTURE VULTURES: Athlone trio The GoldenSisters were on song at the very first Westmeath<strong>Culture</strong> Night. See pages 28 <strong>and</strong> 29 to find outhow Westmeath is leading the way for Irel<strong>and</strong><strong>Culture</strong> Night 2011.ARTPAGE 14 Multi-Award winning Laois poet Ann Egan looks back at her year as Writer-in -Residence withLaois County Council PAGE 16 <strong>Midl<strong>and</strong></strong>s <strong>Arts</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Culture</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> speaks to Offaly Filmmaker PaddySlattery about The Moment PAGE 20 Sculpture in the Parkl<strong>and</strong>s PAGE 25 <strong>Midl<strong>and</strong></strong>s <strong>Arts</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Culture</strong><strong>Magazine</strong> Talks to Photographer Tim Durham PAGE 28 Dublin <strong>Culture</strong> Guru Urges <strong>Midl<strong>and</strong></strong>s to EmulateWestmeath Success as first Irel<strong>and</strong> <strong>Culture</strong> Night 2011 Nears13
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