Carnaross promise a night of suspense

Carnaross Drama Group are set to stage a gripping whodunit by Agatha Christie.

The local acting crew expect ‘A Murder Is Announced’ by the queen of crime is a show will have the audience on the edge of their seats.

“It’s something different, so the tone is one of mystery and suspense…who did it?” says cast member Adrian Tuite. “We are just trying something different; we’ve been around for 18 years and done all the run of the mill stuff, so we just said why not try something different? It’s a great experience for the cast as well.”

The story starts with an advert being placed in the local gazette detailing how a murder will take place on Friday, 13 at 6.30pm in the home of Letitia Blacklock played by Anne Marie Brogan.

Letitia lives with her lifelong friend Dora Bunner played by Sharon Clarke and her nephew Patrick, Peter Farrelly, and his sister Julia played by Gillian Brogan. Also resident in the house are eccentric cook Mitzy who is played by newcomer Charis McMullen and Joanne Muldoon while the gardener, Phillipa Haymes is played by another newcomer to the local drama group Gabrielle Harte.

Neighbours Clara Swettenham played by Carmel Reilly and her son Edmund - Martin Devine - are regular visitors to the house. But what’s at the show’s core is the mysterious stranger Rudi Scherz played by Adrian Tuite and his appearance at the house on the fateful night…the audience will no doubt be determined to solve the mystery before the intrepid detectives - Paul Corcoran and Frances Ward - or the world famous Miss Marple played by Tanya Farrelly do.

The show - which is directed by Rose O’Neill, a lady who has been at the helm of the Carnaross Drama Group since its establishment in 2007 - starts on Friday, February 14 and continues on February 15 and 16, as well as throughout the weekend of February 21-23.

A big undertaking, surely for a small local drama group.

“Ah, not really,” replies Adrian. “There’s a great team, everyone helps each other out and we all get each other across the line. I have no doubt this will be no different.”

Elsewhere, ‘A Murder Is Announced’ starts at 8pm each night while admission is €15 and bookings can be made on (087) 7703818. Michael Farrelly and the Carnaross Inn are running a special menu each night of the show from 6pm. Contact 046 9245 906 for more details.