Photos from the play
Bernard Farrell is considered to be one of Irelands
most popular playwrights.
Dr. Fell was his first play and is considered by
many to be his best. It was
first performed in the Abbey Theatre in 1979
and included in the cast then was
none other than Liam Neeson who played
the part of Roger.
The play, a black comedy with strong elements of thriller and mystery is funny, gripping and highly entertaining. It centres around a group therapy session involving six people. There is Suzy, the group co-ordinator, who hails from the US whose remedy for any problem is to 'relax, relate, communicate'. Roger, an intellectual snob, has dedicated his life to attending group therapy sessions around the world and thus knows the 'modus operandi'. Peter, a builder, and his wife Maureen are there because Maureen is highly strung - according to Peter. Rita speaks of nothing else but her twelve cats and her husband who died three years previously. There's the mysterious Joe - the Dr. Fell of the title. Just why he's there is not initially obvious, but his presence and behaviour act as a catalyst, which turns the session into a roller coaster ride for the other participants. And then there's Paddy, the group attendant, an outsider looking in who views the participants as weirdos.
The director was Connie Broderick with the following cast.
Paddy .................................... Declan Purcell
Joe .............................................. Joe Bergin
Suzy ................................... Martina Murphy
Roger ......................................... Jim Curran
Peter ........................................ Colin Walshe
Maureen ........................... Orla Prenderville
Rita ...................................... Aine O' Malley