COROFIN Drama Society springs back into action after the pandemic with a performance over three nights of a Harold Pinter play.
Betrayal, which is produced by John Clancy, will be presented over three performances in St Patrick’s Hall, Corofin, running on March 2, 3 and 5 from 8pm each evening.
Thereafter, the society will take the play on the road to regional drama festivals, as it attempts to qualify for the 2022 All-Ireland Final, which will take place in May in Athlone.
“It’s such a good feeling to be back performing in our home community,” comments Rona Lyons, PRO with Corofin Dramatic Society.
“Covid really impacted on our ability to do what we love so we are feeling really excited as things open up again.”
The society enters into the 2022 Drama Festival Circuit full of confidence, having qualified for the All-Ireland One Act Festival which was hosted by Ennis Players in early December.
“That was a great experience,” says Rona. “Though we didn’t win, we were just so pleased to represent the Banner at the One Act finals and Ennis Players did a brilliant job.”
This is the first time the society has performed this play. John notes plays by Harold Pinter “are very difficult”.
“I’ve wanted to produce Betrayal for years but it’s taken me until now to believe that we can really pull it off.”
So what can audiences expect from Corofin Dramatic Society’s performances?
“Well the play does exactly what it says on the tin,” says John. “It’s a play full of deceit and intrigue and tension.”
Betrayal centres around the friendship of two men, Jerry and Robert, each viewing the other as their best and oldest friend. Their friendship, which has involved working, playing and lunching together for many years is, however, severely compromised by Jerry’s seven-year affair with Robert’s wife, Emma.
Emma, who has fallen deeply in love with Jerry, would readily leave Robert if her husband’s best friend was willing to create a home with her.
Lest one get upset for Robert, he too displays an immense talent for betrayal, leading to a complex love triangle whereby each act of love and honesty in the play inevitably leads to the betrayal of at least one other character.
As John highlights above, patrons to St. Patrick’s Hall will be guaranteed an evening’s entertainment, full of deceit, intrigue and tension.
Having completed its home performances in early March, the society will then compete in seven drama festivals around the country. These will include the West Clare Drama Festival in Doonbeg (March 10) and the Clare Drama Festival in Scariff (March 29).
Further details regarding Corofin’s performances will be available on the Corofin Dramatic Society Facebook page.