Coming out with guns blazing

This is the 30th year of the Dundalk Drama International, a sparkling, bustling Cannes of Cooley with something for all tastes, including art and photography exhibitions and a range of events for children.

The Guinness Late Night Theatre's comedy events included a marvellously cruel tilt at amateur theatre, Burdundoc's Hitchcock's Penultimate Ride, a tongue-incheek western featuring local and international satire. Dana International, Viagra, the White House, Sample `B' and The Full Monty received little respect from Dundalk's crazy cowboys, crest-fallen because "robbin' banks is passe; nowadays the banks is robbin' us."

From the main programme, I had seen most of the Irish plays at the recent All-Ireland in Athlone. Castleblayney Players impressed greatly there and received deserved recognition in Dundalk. I sampled two of the overseas entries at the Town Hall. Mrs Klein by Nicholas Wright is based on a lady widely considered to be the founder of child psycholoanalysis. Set in 1934, it concerns her son's death by accident or by suicide, a daughter accusing her mother of psychoanalysing her children rather than loving them and a patient of Melanie Klein's who observes the pair's confrontations. The play calls for fine acting, which it received (apart from a little overacting here and there) from Tel Aviv Community Theatre. But it is a dull and depressing piece and having seen this company before, I wonder do they select their plays to give their chief actress, Dawn Nadel, a plum role. Myriam Roth gave a beautifully controlled performance.

Scotterby Done Productions' Torch Song Trilogy, a portrait of gay life by two fine actors, Jermey Battersby as Drag Queen Arnold Beckoff, and Craig Kirby as his bisexual friend Ed, was sensitive and often moving. Torch singer Vicky Nundy sang splendidly to Rob Turner's spirited accompaniment. Despite an over-long Act Two, the company won acclaim for this adept handling of a difficult theme. The non-competing Shibboleth production of The Turnout completed the main programme.

The festival ended with the planting of a tree to commemorate Linda Gross from Holyoke, Massachusetts, who was a participant or visitor for a decade, and who died in January.

Competition results

Premier Award: Castleblaney Players in

The Great Hunger

Best Director: Aidan Mc Quillan, Castleblayney Players

Best Actor: Graham Evans, Players' Theatre, Wales

Best Actress: Mary Harvey, Torch Players, Wales

Best Supporting Actor: Conal Royce, Moat Club, Naas

Best Supporting Actress: Myriam Roth, Tel Aviv Community Theatre

Best Young Actor: Lucy McBride, Torch Players, Limerick

Best Lighting Design: Paul O'Neill, Castleblaney Players

Best Set Design: Pete Ward, Castleblaney Players

Excellence in Costume Design: Players' Theatre, Wales

Adjudicator's Award: Mobile Theatre Guild, Alabama

Audience Award: Shared by Mobile and Castle Players, Dundalk