www.communityvoice.ie - Art news from Dublin 15

Red roses and petrol

Take one newly formed theatre company. Their first production “Run for your wife” – Ray Cooney’s much admired farce – is a huge success but the problem is - what do you choose as a follow-up?

It is doubtful whether the words “Red roses and petrol” would be among the first to spring to mind. In fact Pulitzer Prize winning Joseph O’Connor’s suburban drama has been shunned by many much more experienced theatre companies as it has been regarded as very technically challenging, due to the large amount of editing and post-production coordination that is involved.

This however has not deterred the On Q team in the slightest and they are veritably chomping at the bit to bring their adaptation of the play to Draíocht for three nights at the beginning of March.

“Such was the success of “Run for your wife” that we decided to form our own theatre company with a view to putting on semi-professional shows in professional theatres,” explained producer Bernie Byrne. “Director Carol Ryan and I approached some actors we have worked with over the years – actors who have won many awards in the amateur dramatic world – and asked them would they be willing to come with us on this venture. Virtually to a man – or indeed, woman – they signed up!

“We thought long and hard about our second show. Should we follow it up with another comedy, or should we go straight? In the end we decided that “Red roses and petrol” was the perfect vehicle. It is a great theatre piece, with some fine drama in it, but laced throughout with a wicked black humour.”

The play is a wickedly funny, dark take on the emotions that surface when a Dublin family reunites for their charismatic father’s funeral. Layer upon layer of unpredictable secrets are peeled back and the presence of an American boyfriend ensures that family skeletons don’t remain hidden for very long.

There is a cast of six, three male and three female, though the father, Enda, appears on television only as he is, of course, dead. This is of course the reason many companies shy away from the play.

“It is very challenging to coordinate the video of Enda with the rest of the play,” explains Bernie. “We had to do a lot of editing but I have to say everyone has really stepped up to the mark. We’re at the stage now where the cast is ready and crying out for an audience to come and watch them!”

The play is performing at four venues initially – at Draíocht, in Newbridge, Prosperous and, for those who might miss the Blanchardstown performances, for three nights at The Venue in Ratoath at the beginning of April. If it is successful, there are tentative plans to bring it around the country, depending on the availability of the cast.

“One of the things I hadn’t realised, being new to the production side of things, was just how far in advance you need to book a theatre,” says Bernie. “We would phone various venues and would be told they had a slot eighteen months in advance and were we interested?

“Of course, it’s a great thing for the arts that the theatres are being utilised but I hope this also translates to bums on seats. There’s nothing more dispiriting for actors, writers, stage crew and, indeed, audiences, to see plays being performed to the proverbial one man and a dog.

“I am earnestly hoping that Dublin 15 audiences will come out and support us and enjoy a truly great and little-seen piece of theatre,” she added.

On Q’s “Red Rose and Petrol” plays Draíocht Studio from Thursday 6th to Saturday 8th March at 8.15pm.

Tickets are €15 / €12.

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