Liz Crumlish - An Appreciation

 

"Sure that will be no problem- I’ll put a few stitches in it" or "I'll have that taken in in no time and it will be ready for tonight" etc. These were some of the sayings that Liz Crumlish would have at each and every production when she was Costume Mistress. Nothing was any trouble to her and she would go out of her way to ensure that every single costume was as it should be for every production. Unfortunately Liz passed away after a fairly short illness in June this year and we will all certainly miss her in The Letterkenny Music and Drama Group.

On a personal note, Liz has been involved in most shows I have produced since the inception of The Letterkenny Music and Drama Group in 1991. When I started producing and directing musicals I was always able to turn to Liz for any advice or ideas and she always had plenty. She would give her own opinion and left it up to you to accept or leave it. She had a wealth of experience, having been involved in shows both on and behind the stage, in her native Derry and here in Letterkenny, for most of her life.

Liz was very involved in all the shows and not just as a costume mistress. She wanted every show to be a success. She had a great eye for detail and was great for dressing the stage. She would go out of her way to get props and furniture of the period for each production. I think we used nearly every bit of furniture and ornament in her house on the stage in various plays and musicals over the years. When each show was over she would quietly gather up all the costumes and pack them if they were hired from costumers, or take them and wash them if they were borrowed from other people or were her own. Indeed her attic must be packed with bags of costumes collected over the years. Liz also had a great sense of humour and we were sure of a laugh at any practice she attended with stories and anecdotes about past productions she was involved with.

I would like to, on my own behalf and all involved with the Letterkenny Music and Drama Group, offer our sympathies to all her family. It was great that one of her grand daughters, Clodagh was in our last production, Children of the Dead End. I'm sure Liz would be proud of her and that she is carrying on the theatrical tradition she was so involved in herself. I will certainly miss Liz, not just for all her work with the LMDG, but also as a friend and colleague.

Ar Dheis Dé go raibh d'anam a Liz

Pluincéad Ó Fearraigh, LMDG

 

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