Director's comments on
"The Poker Session"

This is the fourth play by Hugh Leonard that I have directed with Tara Players: as you can tell, there is something about this playwright's work that appeals to me. Each of the four plays has been quite different, but in all of them, the playwright examines the underpinnings of contemporary society, although not necessarily Irisch society in all cases. Leonard himself indicates that The Poker Session is not really an Irish play, it could be set almost anywhere. In this, one of his earlier plays, Leonard shows a fine touch for mystery as well as his well-known humour, as the audience is led to try to answer the question, "Who was responsible for sending Billy Beavis to the psychiatric hospital where he as spent the last year?"

The play opens on Billy's first evening back in the home he shares with his mother. He has invited his brother Kevin and his wife Fran as well as his closest friends, Des and Irene, ostensibly to play some "Penny poker" just as they used to before he was incarcerated. However, Teddy, his former room-mate from the Institution, also turns up, determined to help Billy get at the truth. The resulting moments of tension, interlaced with Leonard's ususal deft comic touch, is reminiscent of some of Harold Pinter's work.

Tara Players will be taking this play to the Acting Irish International Theatre Festival, which takes place this year in Denver Colorado from May 15-20. I would like to take this opportunity, on behalf of the cast and crew as well as the Executive of Tara Players, to express our gratitude to those who have generously donated to help defray our expenses and allow us to participate in this Festival.