Cowslip Productions Presents
The Deal
Written by Thomas Clare
The Deal is a black comedy/rural farce based around the lives of the McQuirk brothers and the problems surrounding the death of their dominant elderly mother. Mickey Moe as the eldest stands to inherit the house and farm, however apple of the mother’s eye, Andy has other ideas. A spanner is thrown into the works when local solicitor and undertaker Mr. Downey shows up with words from beyond the grave. A powerful cast led by Aisling O’Neill (aka Carol from Fair City) provide a great night’s entertainment, full of fun and laughter. Not to be missed!
“This charming comedy combines old style humour with sharp modern wit. Think J.B. Keane meets Fr. Ted!” – Liz Lloyd (Director)
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Liz Lloyd (Director)
Liz has played all major Theatres in Ireland over her 32 year career. Some favourite roles include Miss Feletti in “Accidental Death of an Anarchist” Directed by Jim Sheridan; Mrs Lyons in the original Olympia production of “Blood Brothers”; Gwendolyn in “The Importance of Being Earnest at Lyric, Belfast; Madam Jourdan in “Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme” and Catherine in “Arms & the Man” at the Gate. A founder member/Director of innovative Smock Alley Theatre Co., she toured America and Ireland playing Helena in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and Angelica in Congrieves “Love for Love” She also created the role of “Speranza” in Christopher FitzSimon’s one-woman play, “Speranza” – Oscar Wilde’s astonishing mother. T.V. & film credits include “Taffin” & “Remington Steele” for MGM; “The Price” for Chan 4; “The Tudors”, “Inside”, “Still Love” & “Glenroe” for RTE; Liz also played Hazel Hendricks in Fair City for 3 years and Gina on Radio soap “Konvenience Korner”.Most recently, she played voice of Hell – wicked Queen of the Underworld in Magma’s animation film “Tales of Valhalla – Thor” due for release this year.
In addition to her acting career, Liz has developed an increasing interest in Directing. Last year she Directed “I do not like thee, Dr. Fell” for Gorey Little Theatre. Liz has worked with Tom over the past two years. She directed his “The Fantastic Father Fitz”, “Quigley’s Quarry” and a one-act version of “The Deal” and is delighted to be working with him again.
Owen O’Gorman. (Mickey Moe)
Owen’s acting debut was playing the lead role in “Fear of the Dark” for Strongbow Films/RTE Directed by Tony Barry. His Theatre work includes a Welsh tour of “Playboy of the Western World”; “Semi-Private”; “Goodbye to the Hill”; “Talbots Box”; “Pericles”; “King Lear”; “Hamlet”; Fireraisers”:
Film roles include Mick Cafferty in “Into The West”; “The Commitments” “Mystics” “On the Nose” & “Angela’s Ashes”. T.V. Includes “Vicious Circle” and “Rebelheart” for BBC; “Echoes” for Chan.4: “The Clinic” & “Fair City” for RTE and the role of Butty Sugrue in “Sceal Na Rialta” for TG4.
As a writer he has co-written “The Silver Branch” which will be broadcast for radio this autumn. He is also c0-founding member of Reactors Agency.
Frank Melia (Dr. Forrest)
Frank started his career in 1973 playing Young Behan in “The Borstal Boy” at the Cork Opera House. In the years since then, he has played every major Theatre in the country. The Abbey & Gate in his native Dublin, and The Royal Court in London. T.V. viewers may remember Frank as Sean McCann in “Fair City”. Films include “The General” and his latest film, “King of the Travellers” has just had it’s premier in the Galway Film Festival.
Gerry Walsh (Andy)
Gerry is probably best known around the country for his role of Larry Cummin’s in Pat Short’s “Kilnascully”. Other Film & T.V. work includes “Angela’s Ashes”, “Sweeney Todd”, “Animal Farm”, “Moll Flanders”, “Circle of Friends”, “Space Truckers”, “The Most Fertile Man in Ireland”, “Ballykissangel”, “The Last Furlong”, “Trouble in Paradise”, “The Lads” “Far & Away”, “Johnie loves Susie” and “Wanderly Wagon”.
His stage career has included many productions in the Abbey & peacock theatres. Among his favourites: Dogberry in “Much Ado About Nothing”, Sir Toby Belch in “Twelfth night”. “Ulysses in Nighttown” “Borstal Boy” “Arragh Na Pogue”, “Lugnaquilla Gorilla”. In the Gate, “Waiting for Godot”, “The Cherry Orchard”, and “Da”. Gerry has toured with Irish Theatre Co., Smock Alley, Playwrights & Actors”, The Abbey, Calypso, Four in One Players & many other companies playing Touchstone in “As you Like it”, The Bishop in “The Field”, Puck in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, “The Hostage”, “Shadow of a Gunman”, “The Wonderful World of Dissocia”. He has toured abroad with “Playboy of the Western World”, “The Good Soldier Spike”, “The Government Inspector”, & “The Lonesome West” in England: “Playboy” & “Romeo & Juliet” in Hong Kong: “A Midsummer Night’s dream” & “Love for Love” in USA & “School For Scandal” in United Arab Emirates.
Aisling O’Neill (Maisy)
Aisling comes from a theatrical family. Her father, Chril O’Neill was best known in Ireland as Michael, Benjy’s brother in “The Riordans”. Aisling’s first role on T.V. was as Biddy & Benjy’s son in the same show! She next appeared in her uncle Vincent’s production of “The Mark” & as the boy in Peter Sheridan’s production of “Waiting for Godot”. After leaving the Oscar Drama School, she toured the Ireland playing Pegeen Mike in “Playboy of the Western World”. Aisling’s first T.V. work was in “Finbar’s Class” and “The Ambassador” with Pauline Collins. She has played Slippy Helen in “The Cripple of Inishmean” By Martin McDonagh in the Jo Papp Public Theatre in new York, directed by Jerry Zacks. While in America, she also appeared in the Irish Classical Theatre In Buffalo, New York and the Bronx theatre playing Minnie Powel in “Shadow of a Gunman”, Mag in “Lovers”, and Peg in “Peg O’ My Heart”. In Andrew’s Lane Theatre, Aisling played in “When Moses Met Marconi” by Bernard Farrell and “Didi’s Big Day” by Paul Walker. In the Gate, she played Chrisie in “Dancing at Lughnasa” directed by Joe Dowling. Films include “Accelerator” & “Goldfish Memory”. Aisling is probably best known to Irish audiences as Carol the role she plays in RTE’s popular Drama, Fair City.
Oliver Stephens (Downey)
Oliver has spent most of his life on stage as an actor or as a member of a Show Band. His most resent role was of that as the Hiker Lacey in The Table Top Players production of “The Year of the Hiker” The play was a massive success with Oliver receiving great praise for his portrait of this difficult role. He has been a member of Gorey Little Theatre for many years and has starred in “My Wife’s Family”, “See How they Run”, “Dry Rot”, “The Field” and “Dancing at Lughnasa” but to name a few. He is a versatile actor showing a great range of ability from comedy to heavy dramatic parts.
Thomas Clare (Writer)
Thomas was born in Coolgreany, North Wexford and has been employed in An Post for the past 13 years. He has been involved in drama for the last three years and this is his fourth play to be performed. He was a founder member of “The Coolgreany Amateur Dramatic Society” and wrote two community plays for the group. “Fantastic Fr. Fitz was his first play which was seen by over 700 people in St Mogues hall in Inch. That was followed by “Quigley’s Quarry” again performed in St Mogues Hall with equal numbers paying to see the production. Both plays were written with the group in mind with parts written for whoever wished to be involved. “The Deal” one act was performed in St Mogues last November 2011 as part of a night for the Irish Cancer Society with over €2500 being raised for the cause. Since then “The Deal has been developed into a 2 act and is a black comedy/ rural farce that has been enjoyed by full houses throughout Wexford. Thomas was part of a writing group that had a book of short stories “Short Stories & Long Lies” launched by Minister for the Arts Jimmy Deenihan in 2012. When not writing Thomas is enjoying a busy life as a father of three and working in the community paper “The Croghan Word”
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Admission: €20 & €16 concession, Super Saver: €10 Tuesday, 26th March 2013
Tuesday 26th – Saturday, 30th March 2013 @ 8pm
