'˜The Adventures of the Lonemoor Ranger'

In the western state of Arizona lies the sleepy town of Derry. The inhabitants are peace-loving, law-abiding folk but their lives are being terrorised by the dastardly behaviour of the notorious Bogside Bart and his loathsome band of Bothersome Brothers. Their intention is take control of Derry and the law seems powerless to stop them.

Sheriff after sheriff falls prey to the gang and business after business is taken over by Bogside Bart . In the midst of the terror one shop remains determined to hold out. Doherty’s Bakery, owned by Ma Doherty and her beautiful daughter Mary Lou are refusing to sell. Bart not only wants the business but has set his eyes on Mary Lou as well.

Who can possibly come to the rescue of Derry and the Doherty’s? In desperation the family turn to their friend Pewee who enlists the help of the heroic Lonemoor Ranger. Despite being in exile for a considerable period the Lonemoor Ranger agrees to come home and give his help in the town’s blackest hour. He rides into Derry on his faithful steed Lightning and accompanied by sidekick Pronto.

The Ranger also enlists the help of the local Indian tribe led by none other than Big Chief Burnt Foot and they conspire not only to root out Bart’s nefarious band of minions, lickspittles and lackeys but also finds time to fall in love as well.

Characters like the good guys Pewee, Worrisome Wullie, Pessimistic Pete and No Brains Magee face-off against baddies like Sicknote Sid, Benefits Bob, Squint Eastwood, Eager Edgar and John the Wain. Add in personalities like the barely sober Doc Callitaday and his Indian rival the Witch Doctor and ‘The Adventures of the Lonemoor Ranger’ is sure to make for some hilarious entertainment.

St Joseph’s music teacher, Margaret Ross has put the entire production together in a period of around just five weeks.

She told the ‘Journal’: “The tradition at St Joseph’s has always been that we make up our own shows. We don’t have girl students so we steer clear of the traditional material. My sister and my husband James have put the script together. James is very much into western’s and he came up with the idea that this would be a western based in Derry.

With 30 students involved, this is not a small production. Margaret continues: “The boys have done the majority of the work and a lot of the ideas about how this was put together came from the boys themselves. All in all it has been a real team effort.”

‘The Adventures of the Lonemoor Ranger’ will run from Tuesday, February 9 until Thursday, February 11 beginning each night at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £5 and £3 for children/concessions. Tickets are available for purchase at St Joseph’s Boys School at Westway, Creggan. Telephone: 028 7126 2923 for further information.