GREGORY'S GIRL
April 1987
 

Cumbernauld News – April 4^th 1987 “Will Gregory get his girl?”   1 | 2 | Top

You’ve seen the film, you’ve lived in the setting… now watch the youth of Cumbernauld perform the show that put the town on the map.

“Gregory’s Girls” returns to it’s home this week when Cumbernauld Youth Theatre transform the popular comic film into an amusing stage show.

The story about young love, set against a background of school life and football, is well known by now. They Youth Theatre  cast have taken the screenplay by Bill Forsyth, adapted by Andrew Bethell, and produced a show that promises to be as great a success as the film itself.

Tony Kiernan play Gregory, the failing star of the school football team, who falls for his replacement striker, the attractive Dorothy (Claire O’Connor).

But young love doesn’t always run smoothly. Will Dorothy be Gregory’s girl?

As the play is being studied in some schools, booking for the Youth Theatre show is going very well and audiences seem set to break new records for the enterprising group. Better book early to avoid disappointment.

Tickets are £2 with £1 concession and a group concession of 90p for 10 people or more. The show runs till Saturday.

Footnote – try and spot one of the original cast from the film in the line-up of Youth Theatre show- a few years older and playing a different character!

Filmed in Cumbernauld almost seven years ago “Gregory’s Girl” went on to win international acclaim.

And last week the local Youth Theatre provided their own entertaining interpretation of the highly successful film with their production at Cumbernauld Theatre.

The larger-than-normal first night audience was an indication of the popularity of the story line and the young cast did not disappoint with their witty performance.

Tony Keirnan was well cast in the title role of Gregory, with jus the correct balance of naivety and youthful exuberance. With a brilliant script, adapted by Andrew Bethell from Bill Forsyth’s original screenplay, he could hardly go wrong. 

The object of his dreams, Dorothy, was played by Claire O’Connor, and although not a demanding role, she tackled it competently.

In the film, I have to admit to having a soft spot for the performance of Madeline, Gregory’s precious younger sister. And in this production, the role was excellently handled by Helen Pike.

Good performances also came from Marin Kelly and James Murphy as Gregory’s friends, Ray Dowling as the PE teacher, Audrey Rankin as Susan, the girl who eventually wins Gregory’s affection and a special mention to Gemma McCrae who’s appearance on stage in a penguin suit almost brought the house down!

Credits for this production, which was directed by Nick Fearne, must go to the whole cast for their efforts, however.

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