Laugh out loud comedy packs local hall in Moynalty

Four nights of full houses with waiting lists is evidence of the success of Moynalty Drama's recent production of 'Stop It, Nurse!' Think 'Only When I Laugh', the television series of yesteryear, with the four boys laid low in a hospital ward, and picture everything that could go wrong - and does go wrong for a philandering husband, two opposing football fans who were the cause of each other's injuries, and a mischief-making trickster who liked to wind them all up. Combine these with a ward sister with an iron fist, a 'frisky' nurse, a fiancée, a wife and mistress, and the ward starts to get colourful. And that's before the mad wrestler appears! 'Stop It, Nurse!' by Sam Cree from Belfast was the group's third production. From tentative beginnings in the kitchen of the Muintir na Tire Hall in 2007, it has since gone from strength to strength. In 2008, Moynalty staged comedy 'Love Thy Neighbour' by Jimmy Keary, and members were delighted when the playwright joined them on the second night of the production. In 2009, 'Caught on the Hop', a farce by Derek Benfield, ran the following year for three nights. Due to demand from last year, this year's production ran for four nights. Long winter nights were spent rehearsing for director Tony Smyth and production manager Joan Donegan, and these rehearsals were fully rewarded by the laughs from the audiences over the sell-out run. Bert Cooper, played by Terry Nevin, had to contend with dour moaning wife, Martha, played by Maura Smith, while trying to make sure that his fancy bird, Dolores Maxwell (Mary Cassidy), didn't arrive to visit at the same time. Inevitably, it happened, but one of the injured football fans, Sammy McCracken, played by Fr Joe McEvoy, came to the rescue! The unfortunate McCracken had forgotten his wedding day because of the cup final, but had a very understanding fiancée, Phyllis Russell (Mary Gilsenan), and a less sympathetic brother-in-law to be, Mad McGurk the wrestler (Felim Clarke). His nemesis and opposing football supporter, Felix Devlin, played by novice Phelim Gargan, eventually ended up being best man, although he couldn't remembered making the promise due to an excess of Bushmills. The local parish priest (the real one) was moving from directing to acting for the first time in Moynalty, although the programme suggested he had been acting for the past 25 years. Amanda Nevin, as Nurse Ferguson, Marie Smith as the ward sister, and Olive Coleman as Nurse Holmes tried to keep the patients on the straight and narrow, not always successfully, with Rosemarie Lynch provided the light entertainment as Miss Cherry, recruited to cheer up the patients. And Harold Smiley, played by Pat Smyth, just loved winding them all up and seeing what would happen. Patrick Daly provided the wrestling commentary without taking a breath. The backroom team included Fintan Govern, Phil Donegan, Paul Read, Ken Nevin, Mandy Maloney, Agnes McEnroe, Angela Reilly, Anita Corcoran, Noel Griffin, Mary Lynch and Mary McCabe, and the MC was Ned Lynch. Moynalty Drama is run by members of the community for the benefit of the community. Its first production was staged on a small loan from the community council. In return for this loan, the group has contributed €7,500 to the community council which assists in carrying out activities in the village where community spirit is evident everywhere. In her chairperson's welcome, Rosemarie Lynch remembered with sadness Martin Wilson, whose sudden death occurred in December. "Our thoughts are with Geraldine and her family at this time," she wrote. "We fondly remember Martin for all the help he gave the group since its formation."