IT MAY still be chilly outside but New Ross Drama Workshop plan to heat things up a bit with their forthcoming production of 'Canaries'.

New Ross Drama Workshop will present its spring production of Bernard Farrell's uproarious comedy from Thursday, February 18 until Saturday, February 20.

This is arguably Farrell's funniest play, with three Irish couples travelling to the Canaries on a package holiday in a bid to escape from their surroundings.

Everybody arrives in the happiest of colours and the best of form, however, things soon start going wrong as the weather is not what was expected, the people are not what were expected and indeed the whole experience descends into total farce.

'Canaries' is simply a play not to be missed as the team who brought you 'Many Happy Returns' in 2009 return with this hilarious, unpredictable, laugh a minute production.

The cast features a married couple, 'Marie', played by Marianne Furlong, and her husband 'Tommy' played by Tom Kent, who head off on holidays together with Marie's dad 'Da', who is played by Tom Doyle.

Margaret Dunne takes on the role of 'Jane' and the role of her husband 'Richard' is fulfilled by John Dwyer.

Nancy Rochford will take to the stage as 'Madeline', the single female who meets a priest while in the Canaries called 'Fergus', played by Peter O'Connor.

Carlos (John Caulfield) runs the lounge and the bar in the hotel and resident in lounge is his grandmother, a role that is fulfilled by Pamela Dwyer. Newcomer Sinead O'Neill, who is a fifth year student in St. Mary's Secondary School, will appear as 'Samantha' the holiday rep.

Paul Walsh is taking on the role of Gunther the German Professor of Psychology, whose wife has left him and who is taken up and besotted by 19-year-old 'Erica' played Nadia Ghalaieny.

'There are very topical issues in the play at the moment and there are three to four different sub plots, which all cross over,' said Director Pat Rossiter.

'The audiences should be laughing from the very beginning and they will be talking about this play for a long time after,' he added.

The play runs for three nights and tickets are priced at ¤12. To book please contact the St. Michael's Theatre Box Office on 051-421255.

- Elaine FURLONG