Published: Wednesday, 3rd February, 2010 4:35pm

Countdown to Carnaross drama

by Ann Casey

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The Carnaross Drama Group will stage 'One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest' by Dale Wasserman in Carnaross Community Centre, starting on Friday 19th February.

The group has taken on a completely different play from previous years and has doubled in size.

This year, the group boasts a wealth of new talent from newcomers to more experienced members.

Following on from last year's production, 'The Righteous And The Bold', the Carnaross group has worked hard through the winter months to make this year's production a big success.

'One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Next' is set in a mental institution and tells the story of Randle P McMurphy, played by David Scanlon, a new patient who arrives on the ward, feigning insanity to escape the drudgery of prison farm work. At first, he feels distain for his fellow patients for not standing up to the old unyielding Nurse Ratchet (played by Bernie O'Brien) who rules the ward oppressively with a harsh and degrading regime.

McMurphy feels a sense of injustice at their treatment and rallies the patients together to take on the force of Nurse Ratchet. This begins a battle of wills which sets in motion a series of tragic events that affect all patients, including himself.

Newcomers Joe O'Reilly and Adrian Tuyie play Billy Bibbit and Marini, while Sean Lynch returns to the stage as Harding. Eugene and Matthew O'Reilly and Tadgh Skelly are also among this year's new members and play Aide Warren, Scanlon and Ruckly, respectively.

Christopher Gibney, Parick Farrelly, John O'Reilly and Larry Farnan are back on stage this year as Charles Cheswick, Chief Bromden, Aide Turkel and Aide Williams.

Tanya Farrelly and Eileen Heary play Nurse Flinn and Candy Star, along with Lisa Madden as Sandy and Fiona Mulvey as Dr Spivey in their first roles with the group.

The show opens in the local community centre on Friday 19th February for a preview night and tickets will be at a discounted price of €10.

The play will continue on Saturday and Sunday, 20th and 21st, and the following weekend, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 26th, 27th and 28th February.

Tickes are €12 and bus bookings are welcome with a reduction for groups of 10 or more. For tickets, phone (087) 055 4158.