Saturday, December 5, 2020

Saturday Night Radio Drama - Noni Stapleton - Charolais

 Charolais  

 

Charolais a surreal comedy about love, longing and one woman’s intense rivalry with a Charolais heifer. This is a muddy place of simmering desire minced with a loneliness that cuts to the bone.  Noni Stapleton who wrote the piece, plays both the protagonist Siobhan and her love rival the cow.

Siobhan is a woman who is very alone in the world. She wants to change that but the way she goes about doing so is off beat to say the least! She is looking for love and very determined but there are obstacles to her achieving that sense of belonging she craves. One of which happens to be a terribly beautiful Charolais Heifer, who appears to be vying for the affections of Siobhan’s fella.

There are bumps in the road including a pass remarkable mother in law played by Bairbre Ní Chaoimh and a less than committed lover in the form of Jimmy, a farmer played by Enda Oates.
Siobhan's method of getting rid of any perceived threat to her idea of happy families is very unusual. There is plenty of room for dark humour, and a little gothic horror here.

Sound Supervision was by Damien Chennells

Directed by Gorretti Slavin

Series Producer of Drama on One is Kevin Reynolds


Charolais is a 'Show in a Bag' and won the Bewley's Cafe Theatre 'Little Gem' award at Tiger Dublin Fringe 2014
Show in a Bag is an artist development initiative of Tiger Dublin Fringe, Fishamble: The New Play Company and Irish Theatre Institute to resource theatre makers and actors. Written by Noni Stapleton. Originally  Directed and developed for theatre  by Bairbre Ni Chaoimh. Dramaturg Gavin Costick. Sound Design Jack Cawley, lighting design Colm maher, costume design Miriam Duffy. Original photography Sally Anne Kelly.Theatrical producer was Michelle Cahill. Developed with thanks to The Arts Council of Ireland.

Didn't think I was going to like this one but I did.  Maybe listening to the freak-show Giuliani produced in Michigan this week made this nutcase seem more normal.

 

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