Iconic play by Brendan Behan being performed in Clane

placeholder image — The Hostage - cast and crew

Hot on the phenomenal success of the sold-out production of “The Addams Family” Clane Musical and Dramatic Society have left Central Park behind and have moved to Central Dublin with the upcoming production of “The Hostage”.

Last year was the 100th anniversary of Brendan Behan’s birth, and CMDS is proud to stage his iconic, funny and historical play in The Abbey, Clane from 23rd to 25th May at 8.00 p.m. nightly.

The play, which is laced through with some of Behan’s songs, is set in one room in a tenement run as a brothel in Russell Street, Dublin, where nwe are introduced to the elderly Monsewer, the owner of the house, who isn’t right in the head and

thinks he’s still fighting in the troubles. We meet the colourful tenants/clients, including Pat and

Meg, who manage the house for Monsewer and who have been told to prepare a room for “a guest” - the British Soldier of the play title. Teresa, a country girl is the skivvy in the house and is immediately attracted to the Hostage. As the play unfolds it at times descends into mayhem that is equally hilarious and dark, bringing out the true character of each of the occupants, some of whom are not who they appear to be!!!

The cast is headed by Padraic O’Neill who plays

Pat, the caretaker of the lodging house/brothel and

Jennifer Reilly (who directed The Addams Family)

who plays Meg Dillon, his “nearly wife”. Veteran

Actor Val Brennan plays Monsewer, while the

Hostage is played by Philip Darragh. Teresa, his

love interest is played by Niamh O’Carroll.

Supporting roles are played by Aaron Donnelly,

John Tuthill, William Lacey, Maria Bolger,

Jonathan Hillyer, Oisĺn Harrington Hayley

Bennett, Catherine Gallagher and Nicholas

O’Donohoe.