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Monthly Archives: March 2014
Calendar Girls top ticket
JESSICA QUINN
THERE’S ‘barely’ a ticket left for the Ennis Players performances of Calendar Girls, which opened on Wednesday to a packed house at Glór.
A “phenomenal” surge in ticket sales has taken place in recent days, with those involved in the charity production crediting the boost to the play’s exposure in last week’s front page of The Clare Champion, media sponsors for the project.
The brave ladies of the cast were photographed by award winning photographer John Kelly with just a few Champion’s to cover their modesty. And their daring move even hit the national airwaves.
In the run up to Wednesday’s opening night, Cormac O’Sullivan of Ennis Players said, “We’ve been averaging ticket sales 150 a day for the last four or five days, which is quite phenomenal and it was really down to, I think, the front page of The Clare Champion. It was the talk of the county and it made national radio on Friday when they were going through the regional papers and specifically picked the story out.
“The sales of tickets have been exceptional. I think we’ve sold out Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. There might be a handful of tickets left for Saturday night, but their going fast so it’s the last opportunity.”
Preparations for the stage production included a dress rehearsal earlier this week, which received a standing ovation. “We had a dress rehearsal on Monday night and we had a tour of around 30 Americans who were staying in the Old Ground attend. It was a great introduction to them of what the town has to offer and to showcase the theatre, but it was also the first time in the history of the Ennis Players got a standing ovation in a dress rehearsal. The created an enormous buzz, and as a cast and crew we can’t wait for the full houses to experience the show and give them all what they are expecting, it’s really top class.”
And in a case of life imitating art, as well as taking to the stage, the cast have also posed for their own calendar, which will be sold at each performance with money raised going to the four nominated charities.
According to Cormac, the cast and crew were more than happy to do their bit for these worthwhile causes. “The role the girls had to play in this is very, very brave but equally it shows the respect that they have for the charites they are representing.,” he said.
The Ennis Players are donating all proceeds from the production to: Cahercalla Hospice; Slainte An Chlair Cancer Centre; West Clare Cancer Care Centre and Alzheimers Day Care Centre in Ennis.
Must be a first!….five naked women on the front of this week’s Clare Champion….whats the world coming to at all?!
From left, Saoirse Byrne as Annie, Maeve Plunkett as Chris, Rachael Culligan as Celia, Sandra Cox as Cora and Rita Brady as Jessie. Photograph by John Kelly
Counting down the days
With rehearsals running into the earlier hours over the past couple of weeks, there is great excitement in the countdown to the opening performance of The Calendar Girls at Glór next week.
Expectations are high that the Ennis Players’ production will draw full houses for the Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday night performances.
In celebrating its 40th anniversary, the local drama group decided to give something back to the community for their loyal support. Cahercalla Hospice, Sláinte An Chláir, West Clare Mini Marathon Cancer Care Centre and the Alzheimers’ Day Care Centre in Ennis were selected to benefit from the proceeds of the four special performances.
Speaking to The Clare Champion, media sponsors for the project, Ennis Players chairperson, Jackie Scanlon, commented, “We are delighted to present Tim Firth’s hilarious and thought-provoking play, The Calendar Girls, to Ennis audiences and further afield.
“Directed by Allen Flynn, the play tells the story of a group of English ladies who had the ingenious idea of producing a calendar featuring themselves, after one of their spouses passed away from cancer. The calendar went on to sell millions of copies all over the world, while the models appeared in TV shows.”
The Clare Champion is running a special competition to coincide with The Calendar Girls. See details on page 2 and on our website.
Pictured are some of the brave ladies taking to the stage, who have also posed for a calendar, which will be sold at each performance, with money raised also going to the charities.
St. Patrick’s / Fallas
Aidan and Gustavo’s trip to Valencia for Fallas (with St. Patrick’s Day) in the middle.
1 st paddys day x
Give it a try
Robyn shouts on Ireland from Kilmaley to her uncle Enda in Paris who bought her the shirt
Then her auntie Clara woke up next day like this
Luckily Trucker removed evidence with a swift few licks
Then Teds took to the books, knowing someone in this equation needs an education to put food on the table
Stade de France here we come, Allez les Verts!!
Allez les Vert!
Allez les Vert! On our way to Paris to see this legend sign off his Ireland career at the Stade de France hopefully with the Six Nations title. Back to the stadium where I had the pleasure of witnessing him announcing himself to the world with a hat-trick of tries in 2000. Here’s to the 2nd win on French soil in 42 years! — with Taimse O Leary and Enda Mc Donagh at Dublin Airport.
An early snapshot
An early snapshot for ye! (please no forwarding it on. Still have to tell some people!)
Even though the blog is private, I held off posting this because I was afraid I’d be responsible for the news leaking! – Éamon 6-Apr
Robyn’s first Ballet award
Robyn with her first ballet award
A montage of Robyn posing
Robyn’s first ballet award, and a montage of her posing 😉