I just checked out what the episode 1 of 2 means, The Commitments is part of a series of Roddy Doyle plays on Radio 4 and from Gemma's initial reply it seems like The Commitments does not actually come in 2 parts. Will keep you all posted!
Hmmm...yes...I guess she probably would've mentioned if it was in 2 parts....but it's quite odd that it's listed like that. The article in The Stage said there will be a week of programming "celebrating" Roddy Doyle's work, and includes the phrase:
"It will be broadcast in December, followed by adaptations of Doyle’s The Snapper and The Van. Collectively, the three books are known as the Barrytown Trilogy,"
regardless of the misspelled name. I am really looking forward to this! Just last night I was listenign to him reading "the student stories" on youtube. voice being all sexy and smooth....
I'm sorry what was I saying?
__________________
My all time fave Hal line (just love the way he says it)
"We've been played! My God! We've been played!"
"Annie's getting hysterical downstairs and I'm not enjoying it"
"kill me. Kill me now. You can tell Annie that I attacked you or something"
"“Were you guys talking about me? I heard ‘clearly gorgeous’”
woohoo! 1 week today until 'The Commitments' radio play!
With thanks to Gemma for pointing me towards this also, this Friday there is a special edition of 'Friday Night is Music Night' celebrating the music of 'The Commitments'. Some of the actors from the radio play will be in attendance, sadly not Damien according to the programme info, but nevertheless, well worth a listen!
full details below:
Friday Night Is Music Night
Friday 13 December
8.00-10.00pm
BBC RADIO 2
In this special show, in collaboration with BBC Radio 4, Friday Night showcases Roddy Doyle’s story of working-class Dubliners who form a soul band called The Commitments, in a concert of Irish music presented by Dervla Kirwan.
The concert precedes a week of programming on Radio 4 celebrating the Irish author’s work with adaptations of his Barrytown Trilogy.
The show will feature the 60-piece BBC Concert Orchestra conducted by Richard Balcombe, Shane Filan from Westlife, Maév formerly of the multi-million selling Celtic Woman, Killian Donnelly, lead actor of the current West End stage adaptation of The Commitments, and the up-and-coming rock band The Riptide Movement (who played as The Commitments band in the new Radio 4 adaptation).
Roddy Doyle will also be present as guest of honour, and will be talking about his life and work in the interval of the concert. The music will cover Irish folk, film and classical as well music from The Commitments. Plus three actors from the Radio 4 plays will recreate scenes from The Commitments in the concert. The actors are Tom Ward, Ronan Raftery and Gavin Drea.
Presenter/ Dervla Kirwan, Producer/ Anthony Cherry
I don't knowof this has been mentioned before but as it turns out this based on a movie from 1991. Found that out while listening to Elaine page this morning and then I just IMDBed it.
Pretty cool! And as it turns out colm meaney was in the film versioN as well as this one.
It's actually based on the book by Roddy Doyle, the film was adapted from the book and the radio play will be another adaptation for radio. Yes Colm Meaney was in the film, which makes it all the more cool he will be in the radio play
I am crossing fingers and everything else that it will be available internationally on the BBC iplayer as radio normally is, just wondering about the rights issues with the music.
Interesting he's so high up in the credits considering he has a relatively small part!
I heard the trailer for the Friday Night is Music Night special on the radio today - everyone sounds like Damo! How are we going to work out which one he is when we get to the play??? Lol.
Eeekk!! This is far too much excitement for this time on a Wed morning!
I think you're right UJ...that's Damien saying "you've heard of James Brown"...isn't it? Well done for finding it! AND video footage - I was hoping for a photo...but this is fanastic! Thanks, domino - and thanks to BBC Radio lady, who really is a star!!