By Aidan Harney (Play Reading)

Sunday, 8th May only. Afternoon Matinee at 3pm. The George, Admission Free.

Diana Ross comes to Dublin! When the oldest gay café in the city is threatened with closure, the owner and a band of loyal customers get together to stage a Motown fundraiser. Drama, tragedy and feather boas … and the rehearsals haven't even started yet. A comedy featuring the music of Diana Ross. And Paninis! Following the Play Reading, there will be an Open Forum Discussion "Writing For Gay Theatre" at which several of the 'Festival' authors will attend.

About Aiden Harney

Aidan Harney, Dundalk, began acting with Gorey Little Theatre Company in Wexford while working there as a journalist. He went on to study at the Gaiety School of Acting, Dublin, and then co-founded "You'll Be Sorry When We're Famous" Theatre Company as a springboard for young actors and directors. In 2001 he was commissioned by Rough Magic Theatre Company and Dublin Fringe Festival to write "A Monarch in Hollywood" as part of their SEEDS initiative for new Irish writers. The play was produced in 2002 and was read last year, as part of the 1st Dublin Gay Theatre Festival. "Being Miss Ross" is a work in progress.

Show Reviews

"Awelcome return of theatre to The George. A highlight of last year's programme, we had the added treat of afternoon tea this year and it was a memorable and most enjoyable community event. Playwright Aidan Harney's work got much better treatment this year too, in that it was audible and the venue's facilities were used to fine effect. Describing it as a "work in progress" can sometimes be a bit of a cop out. By the end of Act One (which was excellent, though a little long) I would have felt it was, however I saw what he meant by the end of Act Two, which was structurally confusing and suffered from relying on visual comedy gags which can not be achieved in a play reading. The plot centres around a gay café that might be sold if the owner can't raise a deposit to secure a mortgage- and yes Harney does lay on the cliches thick and fast, but mostly to good comic effect. The first act is funny, predictable in a nice way and brings out a myriad of characters (ala "Stepping Out") some with a lot more scope for development. Its humour is at times very politically incorrect. His only defence is that he manages to equally insult everyone, but his somewhat dated treatment of ethnicity and the transgendered were a little off target. Director Alice Coughlan assembled and moved a highly skilled cast. Domhnall O Donoghue (Daniel) has a beautiful empathy with an audience, and a fine delivery. He is definitely going to be a serious name in theatre. All cast members earned their spurs without a weak link. Elizabeth Lambert a drunken producer/actress type, Clodagh Reid's beautifully timed (AA Roadwatch type) Sorcha, the role of "good guy" needs to be sorted out between Gary (Martin Phillips) and the Daniel character, with Phillips giving his energetic best around some limp "legs" lines. Larry Ojelade's more dramatically skilful and plausible Hondo and Kieran Grimes (Agent) well complimented this talented crew. Harney likes to write pathos into his comedy, so here he creates Connor's (Graham Singleton) homeless storyline which was moving and very well played. My last word falls to Eddie Devoy as Annie. This was a real treat, and this role has even more comic scope for Harney to develop. Devoy demonstrated its potential clearly and it goes to prove there is a lot more to "Dolly" than a drag act – she has real theatrical talent. I agree this should be seen on stage by next year. A great afternoon of free entertainment."- Gordon Farrell, Scene City - June 2005