Borderline Players celebrate 16 years with comedy classic Out of Order

Borderline Players Pettigo are back on stage this November with the hilarious Ray Cooney comedy Out of Order. The group recently celebrated their 16th anniversary and are assuring local audiences that the laughs will continue for many years to come. 

Directed by one of Borderline Players founding members, and chairperson, Siobhan O’Brien, Out of Order sees a return to the groups farce roots, with a comedy very much in the vein of Cash on Delivery and It Runs in the Family which entertained audiences in 2012 & 2013. The play was written in 1990 and had a long run in London’s West End, winning the Olivier award for Best New Comedy in 1991 and has all the trademarks of the Cooney comedies.

Set in a lavish Westminster Hotel, the play opens with Conservative Government Minister Richard Willey played by Joe Walsh arranging to spend the night with the opposition leader’s secretary, Jane Worthington (Eleanor Gallagher), but a surprising discovery leads Richard on a collision course with hotel staff, an irate husband, his parliamentary deputy and his wife Pamela.

Speaking about the production Siobhan O’Brien explained that the group had toyed with the idea of this script for a few years, but felt that now was right time to introduce local audiences to these larger-than-life characters. Siobhan added that the setting is very familiar and that Cooney’s clever writing allows audiences of all ages to get involved in the action.

‘There is a reason Ray Cooney is referred to as the master of farce. The frantic pace of the play and the exploits of the characters will thrill long-time fans of Borderline Players who continue to talk about Cash on Delivery almost 5 years on’ said Siobhan. ‘We knew that our audiences have a particular fondness for this type of play and while the group has been delighted to try their hand at other comedies over the past few years, Cooney’s work seems like a natural fit.’

The group believes that Out of Order is the perfect production to celebrate 16 years.

Borderline Players was initially formed in September 2000 and took to the stage at the old community centre in Pettigo for the very first time in April 2001 with the pantomime Little Jack Horner. Sixteen years later the group has 10 pantomimes and 9 full-length comedies under their belts. The company has also produced a series of productions with younger casts and each year hosts the Borderline Arts & Cultural Festival.

Siobhan admits that there have been many highlights over the past 16 years, including the company’s trip to Orlando in April 2009 with their own production, Greenside Up – Lilts & Leprechauns. The group has also faced its share of challenges in the past but Siobhan adds that these have only made the group’s bond that much stronger and she is confident that this year’s comedy will be the best yet.

Out of Order features a cast of faces who will be well known to local theatre-goers. In addition to Joe & Eleanor, Aiden Gilroy returns to the stage taking on the role of parliamentary secretary George Pigden, original Borderline member Patrick Duggan is cast in the role of unscrupulous hotel waiter, John James, Frances McGloin stars as the well-to-do Minister’s wife, Pamela Willey and Donal Monaghan portrays the unhinged, Ronnie Worthington.

In her first comedy with the group, but a familiar face to pantomime audiences, Liz Smith takes on the part of Nurse Gladys Foster and Borderline Players are delighted to welcome the very talented Dominic Sharp to the company as the Manager of the Westminster Hotel. Rounding out the cast is Borderline stalwarts Teresa McLoughlin as Italian maid, Maria & Terry O’Connell gives a surprising turn as The Body who causes chaos for Richard & George.

Out of Order will have a three-night run in the Ardhowen Theatre Enniskillen on Thursday 17, Friday 18 and Saturday 19th November. Performances begin each night at 8pm and tickets are on sale from the box office on 028 66 325440 or online at www.ardhowentheatre.com. The production will then move to the Termon Complex Pettigo for its finale on Saturday 26th November with a later starting time of 8:30pm. Tickets for that performance are available by contacting 00353 71 98 61111.