‘I Do Not Like Thee, Doctor Fell’ was Bernard Farrell’s first stage play and is considered his best. It was first performed in The Abbey Theatre in 1979, starring a young Liam Neeson as Roger in one of his first roles. The play is one of the most popular plays in Ireland that has also enjoyed much success abroad.

Take 5 Drama Group brings this hilarious comedy to the stage of Fermoy Community Youth Centre on February 1, 2 and 3, bridging a 23 year gap since the fledgeling Palace Players presented it as their debut presentation back in 1990 with a cast that included the late Joe Kerrigan,Tom Dunne, Pat Flynn, Kate Murphy, Ann McCarthy, Jeff O’Connor and Liz Desmond with Liam Howard as director.

The Take 5 cast includes Seamus Aherne (Fermoy), Owen Matthew (Tivoli, Cork) who is making his debut performance), Aileen McMurtry (Castlelyons), John Murphy (Castlelyons), Tomas Quirke (Glanworth), Yvonne Seymour (Kilworth) and Catriona Grady (Rathcormac). The production is directed by Take 5’s Noelle Clarke.

The play is a depiction of an over-night therapy session involving a group of disparate people. There is Suzy, the group co-ordinator, who hails from the US with a remedy for all problems – ‘relax, relate, communicate’. Roger, an intellectual snob, has dedicated his life to attending group therapy sessions around the world and thus knows the ‘modus operand’.. Peter, a builder, and his wife Maureen are there because (according to Peter) Maureen is highly strung. Rita speaks of nothing else but her twelve cats and her husband who died some years previously.

Then there is the mysterious Joe, the Dr Fell of the title. Just why he’s there is not initially obvious, but his presence and behaviour turns the session into something the other participants had not anticipated. Then there’s Paddy the attendant, an outsider casting a wry eye on the participants. These people, that may, at first, seem strange, will touch a nerve with many.

If you ever thought you were not quite right perhaps this play will remind you that you are not alone! This is one not to be missed and early booking is advisable!

Performance dates: Friday 1st, Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd of February. Tickets cost €10 each. Please support this hard working community-based theatre group by booking your tickets at the box office on 025-32042. Looking forward to seeing you all there!