An evening for Lucy

Thomas Lyons

Later this month Ramor Theatre will acknowledge and celebrate the life and works of Louise Arnold. In August 2017 Louise, affectionately known as Lucy, originally from Virginia, died unexpectedly.

On Sunday, January 26 one of Louise’s plays will be presented as part of a celebration of her creativity. The evening will commence with ‘Lucy’s Miscellany’. This is a show of readings from Louise’s writings here in The Anglo-Celt, where she penned a weekly diary entitled ‘Life with Lucy’, a whimsical and light-hearted look at life as she saw it.
This is followed by a production of ‘Birds of a Feather’ a play written by Louise. Directed by Niall Brewster this comedy gives an insight into the talent lost when Louise passed away.
In ‘Birds of a Feather’, Deirdre the street wise Irish girl, spreads her wings by seeking out a job as an air hostess with Blue Sky Airways, whilst Eva has fled her nest in Slovakia to better herself and become a glamorous air hostess and fly the world. The two ladies meet on their path in the fight for their spot as a crew member. Along the way, they encounter fun, fellas and frolics.
In this production Deirdre is played by Vanessa Flood and Eva is played by Miriam Murphy. Louise worked in the Ramor Theatre, and was the stage manager on The Night Joe Dolan’s Car Broke Down. She also wrote plays staged by the Virginia Youth Theatre.
 

Flashback

Vanessa was a close friend of the playwright: “She wrote the play basing one of the characters on me,” she told the Celt. “It was a version of me when we first met. I think I have changed since then. It’s like a flashback for me,” she laughs.
This is the first opportunity Vanessa has had to play that part. “This is a celebration of her life. It’s something I don’t think her parents and family expected, but it has been in my mind for a long time. I spoke to Padraic McIntyre and Mary Hanley about my plans. We hope a lot of people will come along because it will be a very enjoyable night. It is really good fun.”
She says Miriam Murphy, a member of the Monaghan based Drama group Corcaghan Players, was a perfect choice for her co-star: “Miriam is a very accomplished actor. She is great in the role of Eve.”
Celebrating the life and works of Louise (Lucy) Arnold will be in the Ramor Theatre on Sunday, January 26 with door open at 8pm.