OVERVIEW

• Playwright

  Risteárd Ó Broin 

• Author Notes

  Written by Richard J. Byrne

• Setting

  The cellar of the derelict Kilbrecan Hall, County Galway.

• Notes

  A substantially reworked version of this play entitled 'Dance of the Dinosaurs' was produced by Punchbag Theatre Company as part of the 1995 Galway Arts Festival. The play was directed by Jim Christy.

• Synopsis

  An ageing brother and sister Bertie and Helena Mc Dermott ffrench spend their days living in the cellar of their once great house Kilbrecan Hall, drinking themselves to death and remember how things were when they once had money. Donnelly the postman arrives with a letter offering lots of money for what's left of their property. Great excitement ensues and drink continues to flow as the siblings plan a rosy future. Before long, however, a bailiff appears with a court order telling them that they have to pay out almost all of the promised money in accumulated bills and rates. Bertie and Helena decide to make the most of their remaining few quid by going to the south of France and blowing it on decent drink and a lost fling.

• Play Type

  Plays General
  

  Number Of Acts

  Full-Length

Cast size

• Male

  3

• Female

  1

• Total

  4

Original Production

• Date of First Production

  15 November 1984

• Producer

  Produced by Abbey Theatre/Amharclann na Mainistreach

• Original Venue

  Abbey Theatre/Amharclann na Mainistreach
  

• Venue Notes

  First performed on the Peacock stage.

Source Of Information

The information for this entry was taken from the original Abbey production programme and from information supplied by the author himself.