Blooming marvellous

Sarah Saunderson • Published 19 Aug 2010 16:00 0 Comments

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A scene from Steel Magnolias which is being performed at the Ardhowen this weekend.

The final production in Ardhowen Theatre’s Summer season of comedy takes place this Thursday August 19 to Saturday, August 21, with Bangor Drama Club’s production of the comedy ‘Steel Magnolias’ by Robert Harling.

Hilarious yet touching, the play is set in Truvy’s beauty salon in Chinquapin, a small town in the Southern U.S. state of Louisiana where all the fashionable ladies come to have their hair done and to share the local gossip. Helped by her eager assistant Annelle, the outspoken and wise-cracking Truvy dispenses both shampoos and free advice to the town’s rich curmudgeon.

Filled with hilarious repartee and not a few acerbic but humorously revealing verbal conclusions, this skilfully crafted play, filled with a lovingly evoked picture of small town eccentricity moves towards a deeply moving conclusion, which despite the strength of purposefulness which underlines the antic banter of the characters, makes them suddenly aware of their own individual and collective mortality.

Henry McCullough

The career of one of the great rock ‘in’ roll guitarists of modern times cuts through just about every facet of rock music and touches on some of its most glorious and never to be forgotten moments. His concert in Ardhowen’s Gallery Bar on Saturday 28th August provides yet another opportunity to see and hear this legend perform.

He has played and toured during his long career with some of the finest musicians and bands on the planet and is the only Irish musician to have played at Woodstock. As well as playing with Paul McCartney in the original Wings, and many say their best line up, Henry has also worked and played with Jimi Hendrix, The Move, Sweeney’s Men, Joe Cocker, The Grease Band, Roy Harpur, Marianne Faithful, Janis Joplin, Eric Burdon, Ronnie Lane, Donovan, the list is endless.

In more recent times his ability as a songwriter has made people sit up and take notice. His ‘Failed Christian’ was a huge success and has been recorded by many top artists including the evergreen Willy Nelson. Nowadays, he tours continually to places like Germany and Poland on a regular basis as well as playing at gigs all over Ireland. Together with Roe Butcher on bass, Percy Robinson on pedal steel and Tony Phillips or other on drums and sometimes with James Delaney on keyboards, Henry makes some great music that is somewhere in the bluesy, rock, country tradition. His concert at Ardhowen is at 9.00pm. Early booking is essential as seating in the Gallery Bar is limited.

May McFettridge

The hilarious May McFettridge and a great cast that includes the popular Olivia Nash, take to the Ardhowen stage once again by popular request on Saturday 4th September with ‘A Happy Medium’. Following her success last year May once again revisits her role as Lizzie, with Olivia playing Mrs Cameron. See what happens when Lizzie invites a spiritual medium into her house on the anniversary of her sister’s death. Be prepared to cry tears of laughter in a hilarious evening of black comedy. The performance starts at 8.00pm.

Other Events

Booking is heavy for Conal Gallen’s hilarious evenings of fun on September 10 and 11 in what is part of an action packed Autumn programme that also includes the Ulster Orchestra, Talon, The Divine Comedy solo etc.

This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 19 Aug 10

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