The Successful TD for Skibbereen Town Hall

TWO of Ireland’s best-loved actors star in The Successful TD, which will be staged in Skibbereen Town Hall on Friday, March 10th next, as part of a nationwide tour. 

Mary McEvoy and Jon Kenny get together for another comedic romp, based on two John B Keane books, the Letters of A Successful TD and Letters of An Irish Minister of State. 

This piece – adapted for stage by McEvoy, Kenny and director Michael Scott – follows the trials, tribulations, misadventures and hilarious antics of TD Tull McAdoo as he seeks re-election to the Dáil in the ‘October elections.’

Written by John B back in 1967, the material displays his edge for humour and satire that are still uncomfortably close to the politics of today. 

It contains Keane’s usual quota of madcap characters. 

Tull has roped in the help of his faithful daughter Kate, while his wife nurses her various ailments in bed or Lisdoonvarna, but his arch enemy, Flannery, the local school teacher, plans to scupper the election for him.

Uncannily tying in with latterday phenomena such as ‘fake news’ and alternative facts,’ McAdoo sums up his philosophy, as follows: ‘Any man with a vote is a man to be respected. I’ll play with them, lie to them, sing dumb about them while I have a chance of a vote.  That’s my livelihood. Don’t give me no more stink about the truth. Christ told the truth and they crucified Him…’

Mary McEvoy is probably best known for having played the role of Miley Byrne’s wife, Biddy, in the RTÉ rural soap opera, Glenroe, from 1983 to 2000. 

After that, she became more involved in theatre and the numerous plays she has acted in include John B Keane classics, such as Big Maggie, Sive, The Field, The Chastitute and The Year of the Hiker and other works like Dancing at Lughnasa, The Vagina Monologues and Shirley Valentine, as well as washing powder advertisements on television! 

Originally from Co Westmeath, in April 2011, McEvoy released her autobiography, How The Light Gets In, which dealt with her battles with depression. She is a committed Buddhist

Jon Kenny is a native of Hospital in Co Limerick and was one half of the legendary comedy duo, D’Unbelievables, with Pat Shortt. 

In 2000, Jon was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, but made a good recovery and performs his own show as well as acting on stage and screen.

He played a number of roles in the hit television sit com Fr Ted and was featured as one of the team managers on Celebrity Bainisteoir. 

On stage, Kenny and McEvoy have appeared together previously in another piece, which was based on the John B Keane novella, Letters of a County Matchmaker and also directed by Michael Scott.

• Tickets for The Successful TD in Skibbereen Town Hall on March 10th are sold out.