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Pictured in rehearsal for ‘Conversations ON A Homecoming’ opening at The Village Arts Centre on Friday 20th are Sean Ahern (Liam), Danny Buckley (Junior), Mary Flavin (Missus), Fiona Clifford (Anne) and Michelle Hurley (Peggy).

Friday of next week (February 20th) will see the opening of The Palace Players' festival production - this time, a comedy from the pen of the ingenious Tom Murphy entitled 'Conversations On A Homecoming'.

'Conversations' will take you back to the early 1970's, ten years after Michael Ridge had emigrated to the States. A decade earlier, in June 1963, John F Kennedy came to Ireland and in the time following that historic occasion, Michael had been part of a group of four or five regulars who, along with their 'mentor' and JFK lookalike J J Kilkelly, broke the mould at the West of Ireland pub they called The White House. The latter had brought the wrath of the clergy on JJ and his cohorts for stepping outside the bounds of decency.

Ten years on, neither Michael or his pals have fulfilled their real potential. Michael is keen to meet up with J J as he dreams of perhaps re-creating the life he and the lads enjoyed in the sixties. As everyone gets progressively drunker, souls are bared, exposing a searing reality for Michael.

Brendan Dunlea steps in to the role of Tom - the local schoolteacher who has been engaged all of ten years to Peggy (Michelle Hurley); Brian Hogan is the returned 'yank'; Sean Ahern plays local auctioneer, general businessman and 'cowboy' Liam; Danny Buckley completes the male quartet as Junior who is happily married to Gloria and they have 'a nice baba'; Missus is portrayed by none other than Mary Flavin and Fiona Clifford completes the line up as J J's daughter, Anne.

This is only the second Tom Murphy play to be undertaken by the group in its 30 year history, 'The Wake' being the first back in 2005 which was hugely successful for the group on the festival run, eventually taking them to Athlone.

Come along next weekend (20th to 22nd) and spend a night in 'The White House' with this motley crew, have a laugh and take in another of Tom Murphy's great creations. Do be warned however, while Murphy's language can be hugely entertaining and engaging, it can also sound pretty rough in patches!

All tickets on opening night are just €8 each (€12/10 all other nights). Tickets now on sale from The Avondhu office, Fermoy (025-32227), Cotter's Bar, Kilworth (025-27109), Hyland's Bookshop, Mitchelstown (025-24528) or call 087-6492514.

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