Ardnaglass on the Air
Synopsis:
Romantic comedy.
Number of Characters: 2
Minimum Number of Actors Required: 2
Length (in Pages): 82
Location: Mickey Maddens mother's garage.
Key Words: comedy
Has the Play Been Produced? Yes
Are the Rights Available? Yes
Has the Play Been Published? No
Award nominations/wins:
Reviews:
“Hand on Sister David’s heart, what you can expect is a full hour and 20 minutes of sheer unadulterated, ignore the pun, fun” – Culture Hub NI
“This is theatre at its purest and best – two actors alone on stage with nothing but a cracking script and wonderful rapport” Irish News
“Full of energy and fun with a twist of lemon on your parade as she raises an eyebrow, or scowls at the mishaps that only top quality, professional, community broadcasting can bring. I implore you to go see this fab bit of fun theatre. Standing ovation well deserved” – Culture Hub NI
“Ardnaglass on the Air is a hoot. It’s outrageously funny, full of vernacular and very entertaining” – Alan in Belfast
The play is sensationally entertaining with rich characters in which most of us will find a sense of familiarity. BAMNI.com
When Culchies Clas, Chaos Follows – extracts Cahir O’Doherty –Irish Voice
ONCE in a while a new Irish play comes along that reveals something that you’ve been missing, usually without realizing it. Actor and writer Jimmy Kerr’s bawdy knee-slapper Ardnaglass On The Air is a prime example.
Set in the blink and you’d miss it village of Ardnaglass in the North of Ireland, this unapologetically rustic comedy does something that most recent Irish plays do not: it comes directly from lived experience and it hands it all back to you, decked with laughter.
This play is a gas. Like Ballygowan spring water, it seems to have been bottled directly at the source, coming to the stage redolent of hay, stout and manure, but still somehow smelling sweet as a rose.
As Margaret Mary Rose Kilkenny born actress Jo Kinsella is the heart and soul of the production. The long-suffering wife of a feckless alcoholic, she manages to raises her two children, broadcasts for hours, and then work as a barmaid, all without a word of thanks.
As Fabian, the not-so innocent abroad, Jonathan Judge Russo displays a gift for comic timing, accent work and physical comedy – a triple threat performer. He’s perfectly cast as the polite, somewhat lecherous young man who knows how to enjoy himself wherever he goes.
The special quality apparent in every line of this play is it’s authenticity; although it’s deliberately unsophisticated, there’s no arguing that it comes unfiltered from Irish country life.
Director and famed actress Geraldine Hughes keeps the accent on fun throughout. You can only imagine the insanity of the rehearsal process if Ardnaglass On The Air is the result
Presented by the New York based Hamm and Clov Stage Company, who excel at vivid productions of Irish country classics.
Production Photos/Posters/Playtext Cover:
