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PRESS   RELEASE

Molly Sweeney by Brian Friel

(Please contact the director, Maree Thorpe, for further information: 01260 276165)

What happens when sight is restored to a woman who has been blind since infancy?  Can she make sense of the world?  Can she learn how to see?

This is Molly Sweeney, living contentedly in her blind world, now urged to grasp an opportunity to gain ‘the gift of sight’.  Her husband thinks she should; her ophthalmologist is longing for the chance to demonstrate his skills; but she wonders what she has to gain, while they tell her she has nothing to lose.

Alsager Community Theatre’s next production is Molly Sweeney by acclaimed Irish playwright Brian Friel (probably best known for his Dancing at Lughnasa). The play looks deeply into the lives of three people, examining their motivations and emotions as they talk about themselves and each other in what has been described as ‘literary chamber music of deep compassion’.

“The play is an actor’s dream”, says director Maree Thorpe. “We have three award-winning actors who have taken on the challenge and are creating compelling and wholly believable characters; Diana Lane (Elizabeth Proctor in The Crucible), Philip Jackson (Gerald Croft in An Inspector Calls), and Howard Thorpe (George in Honour and Mr Hardcastle in She Stoops to Conquer). We were all emotionally engaged with the characters right from the start. Molly Sweeney is beautifully written, lyrical and honest, with moments of hilarity and moments of tragedy, and I know the audience will be captivated by this wonderful story.”

For more information about ACT, go to www.alsagercommunitytheatre.org.uk

Production details as follows :

Alsager Civic Centre

From Wednesday 21^st March to Saturday 24^th March 2012 at 7.45pm

Tickets are £8 (£7 for concessions)

Tickets from Alsager Library or by phoning (01260) 276165

CAST LIST

Molly Sweeney : Diana Lane

Frank Sweeney : Philip Jackson

Mr Rice : Howard Thorpe