The righteous stuff

IT’S more than 30 years since the Corofin Drama Society last performed Frank Carney’s The Righteous Are Bold, but the impact of this play tackling topics such as religion, immigration and racism is as strong today as ever.

This weekend the drama society will once again bring this play to the stage, performing for the first time in the society’s history in Glór. As well as some new names in the society, the new production also includes some familiar faces, including Corofin drama stalwart Eileen Lahiffe who was among the cast which won the confined section at the Doonbeg Drama Festival in 1976.
Rehearsals have been ongoing since August and Peter Daffy, director, told us that the cast and crew are looking forward to their first performance in the county’s premier venue. Winners of both the one-act and three-act All-Irelands, the Corofin Drama Society will also be performing The Righteous are Bold in Lisdoonvarna on March 7 and 8 before setting off on the festival circuit beginning in Kildare on March 11.
“We have been working hard for the past few months and hopefully people will give their all for our first ever performance in Glór it’s a long haul on the festival circuit,” said Daffy.
“I have faith in every member of the cast and crew. They are a good bunch to work with, enthusiastic and I’m looking forward to seeing the play performed in front of an audience and hopefully progress.
“It will be a major experience for the newer members of the cast and for some their first time on the road, so to speak. I’m sure that it is an audience play, so hopefully those who see it in Glór will enjoy it.”
Written in 1946, the play was first performed in the Abbey in 1951 and it ran for 96 performances. Frank Carney, the author, was a civil servant from County Galway and his work was influenced from observations of rural Irish life.
Set in 1945 the play is centred on the story of a young woman, Nora Geraty who has decided to leave the poverty of her home on the side of Croagh Patrick to find work in England.
The play opens as news comes to her family that she is unwell and she abruptly returns to Ireland to be greeted by her family and an old flame. What follows is a battle between scientific, pagan and Christian beliefs as efforts are made to remove the ‘evil’ that has possessed Nora during her time in London.
According to Daffy, “Outside of the story of the play about this girl, Nora, who has been apparently possessed by this spirit, there is an undercurrent that brings a lot of the subject matter of what was happening in Ireland during the 1940s, a post independent Ireland, to the forefront. High rates of psychiatric illness, prejudice, immigration, those are the kinds of issues that were being faced.
He believes that this play resonates as much with today’s audience as it did when it was first performed back in the 50s. “What is interesting is that many of the issues that Frank Carney’s play places in front of us are relevant today; we are having to emigrate again, there are immigrants coming here and there is the issue of how they are treated.
“Of course, there is the religious aspect, the play challenges us to think of words such as trust, belief, faith, family and what they mean to us. Carney suggests Nora is possessed by someone or some evil from ‘another world’ and she is pursued to come from the darkness and into the light. The play ends with a twist, but you will have to come and see it!”
The present cast includes a mix of seasoned and experienced members along with those who are new to the society.
“It’s a big production, a real heavy duty play and everybody has been working really hard,” said Daffy. “We have some great newer cast members as well as those who have been with the society for a long time. The older members have been giving the younger ones lots of advice from their years of experience on things like what to expect when travelling around the country. There is a really great atmosphere in the society,” he said.
Aoife Corry plays the lead role of Nora Geraty. Having been involved in drama from a young age she has won many individual awards. Aoife’s mother, Margaret is also involved in the show, playing Sr Mary of the Rosary. She has been involved directly and indirectly with drama over the years, with all three of her daughters involved since national school. She has taken part in Tops of the Parish and other productions but this is her first serious role.
James Raleigh plays Patrick Geraty and is new to the society having previously been involved in the Ennis Drama Group. Another recent member to the cast is Alan McGuire. Originally from Sligo he has previously been involved in one act plays in Corofin. Mother Benedict will be performed by Bridie Cox, who has been involved with Corofin in recent years in one act plays and also had an involvement in last year’s circuit play ‘Doubt.
Eileen Lahiffe, who plays Nellie The Post, first joined the group in 1963 and was involved in more than 25 productions, picking up many acting awards along the way. Maura Clancy, who has been involved in drama since the age of 11 plays Mary Kate Geraty. She competed on the school’s drama circuit and has won many acting awards including a number of best actress awards on the circuit.
Martin O’Donoghue, who joined the society in 1968, is also in the cast for this year’s show playing Michael Martin. As well as acting in numerous plays, he is also involved backstage in many productions. Playing the role of Fr O’Malley will be Michael Keane who joined the group in 1982 playing the Bull McCabe in his first role with the society. He has won many awards during his time with the group.
Peter is encouraging people to come along and enjoy the production. “It’s a very entertaining play and a big audience play. Audiences will really enjoy it, it was well received on its first performance in the Abbey and it’s still as relevant today as it ever was. From what I’ve seen in rehearsals it’s going to be a great show,” he concluded.
The Righteous Are Bold will be performed in Glór on Sunday, February 27, at 8pm.