A TROUPE of players from Carlow University, Philadelphia, USA, are re-enacting conditions in Cromwell’s Puritan England when all plays were banned, and illegal, and have begun arriving at towns, announcing their play through “strollers” and criers only hours before it is performed.
This weekend Killarney saw the 24 players and their entourage perform a 1646 pirated witty version or "droll" version of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream.
The Merry Conceited Humours of Bottom the Weaver, about an hour long, was publicised earlier on Saturday morning and took place in oak grove – in line with the play's imaginary setting – at the entrance to the Killarney National Park off New Street in the town centre.
The performance drew an audience of more than 100, including Killarney mayor Michael Gleeson.
“Drolls” originated during the Puritan interregnum in England (1642-1660) when theatre was outlawed. Described as short comical sketches or pirated plays with “borrowed” scenes from well-known plays of the time, the cast and crew roll into town with blankets for the audience, then perform the show, pass the hat, pack up and leave to stay ahead of the law. They were largely forgotten when theatres were re-opened by Charles II.
The players from Carlow University in Pennsylvania, founded by Mercy nuns from Carlow, will turn up at the Éigse festival in Carlow tomorrow.
Carlow University Theatre has been in existence for 18 years and has accounted for more than 80 productions in Pittsburgh city.
Formerly Carlow College, founded by the Mercy Sisters in 1929, it was granted university status in 2004. Carlow is the first women-centred university in the state of Pennsylvania, and is celebrating its 80th anniversary this academic year,
“The connection with its sister college in Ireland (St Patrick’s College, Carlow) enables their international debut performances at Éigse,” according to a spokesman.