"The Matchmaker is a classic that continues to entertain audiences and tap into Irish sensibilities" was one of the most recent quotes regarding John B. Keane's most hilarious play, which comes to the Ardhowen Theatre this week for three performances on Thursday 21st, Friday 22nd and Saturday 23rd of June at 8.00pm.
Since it opened in 2001, this production has had audiences firmly in its grip with the wonderful characters and language of J.B. Keane, with an opening audio introduction by the playwright himself.
Featuring Anne Charleston, well known to television audiences all over the world as 'Madge' in the Australian soap 'Neighbours' and Mick Lally as the well known face of 'Miley' in R.T.E.'s 'Glenroe', the play follows the efforts of the strangely named 'Dicky Mick Dicky O'Connor' to make matches for the lonely and lovelorn from all parts of the Country.
At the centre of this extremely funny piece of theatre is J.B. Keane's marvellous and mischievous wit, coupled with his unparalleled way with words. The production is adapted by Phyllis Ryan and directed by Michael Scott.
Singing talent
Next Wednesday 27th June at 8.00pm, one of Ireland's fastest growing singing talents comes to the Ardhowen Theatre, when the uniquely talented Cara Dillon takes to the stage. Cara Dillon's exquisite, crystalline vocals have been winning her acclaim ever since she won the All Ireland Singing Trophy at the age of 14. Born in 1971 in Co. Derry, Northern Ireland, Cara Dillon grew up in a close, musical family. Whilst she was still a teenager, she went on to sing with Oige and from there, joined the folk supergoup Equation in 1995 as a replacement for another singing sensation, Kate Rusby.
Dillon left Equation before the release of their Blanco y Negro debut and began working with another previous member of the band, Sam Lakeman. A new recording contract was signed but after four years of sessions and living in California, Dillon and Lakeman returned to the UK where they then parted company with the Warner's organisation altogether. In 2001, Cara Dillon's eponymous solo debut was quietly released (via Rough Trade), to an unsuspecting audience.
An instant critical success, 'Cara Dillon' revealed a remarkably assured and justifiably acclaimed collection of (mainly) traditional material. The angelic quality of her voice drew comparisons to Eva Cassidy. Infused with a modern sensibility, ancient songs were artfully supported by the understated arrangements of Sam Lakeman. A shower of accolades followed (BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, Big Buzz, Hot Press Awards) and the album swiftly placed Dillon firmly amongst the leading lights of the new generation of young traditional artists emerging onto the mainstream.
Using a wide range of instrumental textures, the following album, 'Sweet Liberty' (2003 – Rough Trade) exercised Sam and Cara's considerable song writing muscle.
Originals sit happily alongside the traditional, reinforcing the debt they owe, whilst pointing to a distinct and distinguished musical identity all of their own. Sam Lakeman's piano lines still ripple magically alongside Cara's ethereal vocal. Sam and Cara's version of Tommy Sands' 'There Were Roses', which was subsequently used to accompany Billy Connelly's recent TV series, revealed Cara's ability to reach inside the soul of a song and imbue material with not only profound sweetness but also poignancy and depth. During the course of their careers, Cara and Sam have now performed to appreciative audiences the world over, returning to Japan, in particular, on several occasions.
After a handful of UK dates in the Autumn, she's due to visit Korea. Cara Dillon has also proved a popular performer at an impressive range of music festivals, form Womad to Cambridge. She's toured with Paul Brady, performed with Linda Thompson and Ralph McTell as well as 'A Woman's Heart', which has already taken her back to Ireland and will soon take her across the USA.
Cara Dillon is featured in a major new BBC TV documentary on the history of British Folk Music, and a much-anticipated new album is scheduled for release to coincide with an extensive tour of the UK.
By way of complete contrast, on Thursday 28th June at 8.00pm, Vicarage Productions from London present Rosemary Hawthorne, internationally known as 'The Knicker Lady', as she brings her history of the humble knicker. With the style and timing of pure comic genius, the show hums along with a tempo and hilarity that leaves audiences, both male and female, spellbound and dying for more.
Surrounded by old suitcases, boxes and hat stands, Rosemary delves through two hundred and fifty years of bloomers, briefs and bustles, presenting the myriad of colourful characters that wore them in a unique and enigmatic style of her own.
Transported back
Audiences are transported back to the muslin clad elegance of Jane Austen's England, the corset bound Nineteenth Century, the suffragettes and daring darlings of the roaring twenties. With charismatic vivacity the Knicker Lady scrutinises like never before, the mighty Y-front and much much more.
There isn't a brief left unturned. Rosemary Hawthorn is a classically trained actress, a scholar of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), as well as a fashion historian, best selling author and media personality. Her show lasts 80 minutes and is played without an interval and should prove to be a wonderfully funny and entertaining evening at the theatre.
On Friday 29th June the excellent Celtic music group 'Tullamore' all the way from Kansas City in the United States present their unique traditional talents in the Gallery Bar starting at 9.00pm, while on Saturday 30th June Dr Hook'd and the Medicine Showband from London, present a great night of musical nostalgia in a zany night of the music and antics of the clown princes of 70's pop, Dr Hook. Hear all the great Dr Hook hits such as 'Sylvia's Mother', 'More Like The Movies', 'When You're In Love With A Beautiful Woman', 'If Not You', 'A Little Bit More', 'Sharing The Night Together', the list is endless. The performance starts at 8.00pm.
