'Cash' on the boards
When Bernard Berney rushed across the road to Fallons 15 minutes before the preview performance of 'Cash on Delivery', it was wonderable if last minute nerves were doing their worst.
Ah, props. Last minute realisation that nerve-steadying tinctures, part of the plot, had to be in real glasses rather than the imaginary liftings in rehearsals.
Joe O'Connor was last-minute busy too, drilling a hole in the set so the prompter could see what was going on. Though there was some concern if an on-the-way vase of flowers would obscure it.
Upstairs, cast members in the early part of the play were rubbing in makeup and patting on powder. Eilis Phillips was trying to make herself unrecognisable. Sabina Reddy was apparently talking to herself. Actually muttering her way one last time through her lines. Dick Dunphy was, well, being Dick Dunphy.
Vivian Clarke climbed the stairs, fresh-frothed pint of Bud in hand. "One for The Saint," he said. Unconvincingly. But Donal 'Sledgehammer' St Leger in Sopranoland will get the message anyhow. If not the beer.
Outside, Madge Clarke and Nuala Egan directed guests to the world-unique leather seated theatre. Senior and younger local citizens waited for curtain up. Mary Berney had Christina from Sri Lanka in to experience the collective and singular talents of Kilcullen people.
It was a night like any other ... when the rehearsals are finally done and the performance must get under way. We'll get to that another night.
From the very special Twilight Zone that is Kilcullen Drama Group.
Brian Byrne.
