Peg O’ My Heart
Sligo Drama Circle will once more tread the boards of the Hawks Well Theatre at the end of July, with the charming comedy “Peg O’ My Heart” by J. Hartley Manners.
“Peg O’ My Heart” is set in 1912, and the story unfolds in the English country estate of the snobbish Chichester family who have just learned that they have been pauperised by the failure of their bank. Poverty is averted by the arrival of an uncultured but pretty and bright Irish cousin, Peg O’Connell. Peg, unknown to herself, has been left a fortune in which the Chichesters will share, but only if they undertake to teach her to be a lady. What ensues includes conflict, romance, and lots of laughter!
The Drama Circle is at present furiously rehearsing in their premises in the Market Yard. Indeed, this is not the first time that Sligo audiences have been treated to this delightful play. In 1980 Sligo Drama circle staged “Peg O’ My Heart” with many well-known local actors in the cast, including Joan Fitzpatrick, Robert Burnside, David Johnston, Columb McBride, Liam McKinney, Ann McDermott, Lionel Gallagher, Pam Donaghy and Sheila Horan as Peg.
The present cast for this summer’s revival includes many familiar faces as well as some new ones – and two dogs! Newcomer Catherine Bell plays the part of Peg, the Irish colleen foisted on her English cousins; Angela Mc Guire plays Mrs Chichester with Orla Mc Sharry and Daire Macken taking the parts of her children Ethel and Alaric; Barry Deignan plays the part of Jerry who falls in love with Peg; Damien Quinn plays the part of Christian Brent who attempts to get Ethel to elope with him; Michael Goodman plays Mr. Hawkes, Peg’s solicitor. The cast is completed by cameo roles from Ultan Burke and Sarah Burns as the servants Jarvis and Bennet.
This up-coming production of Peg O’ My Heart will be on stage in the Hawks Well Theatre from Tuesday 23rd to Saturday 27th July. The play will be fully costumed in the style of 1912, so be prepared for flavours of Downton Abbey!
Funny and heart-warming, Peg O’ My Heart is sure to be a crowd-pleaser, and the perfect play for a summer’s evening.
Tickets are €15, €13, and €10 for groups of 10 or more. Book at the Hawks Well box office, phone no. 071 916 1518 or online at www.hawkswell.com
