CASTLEBAR PANTOMIMES 2014 PRODUCTION OF SLEEPING BEAUTY
PRODUCTION TEAM
Director - Donna Ruane Choreographer - Jason Guthrie Musical Director - John Flatley Produced by - Castlebar Pantomime Committee Costumes - Created by Ballina Heritage Company First Aid - Castlebar Red Cross Front of House – Karen Conway, Sharon Lavelle, Jimmy Murphy, Tom McGrath Hairdresser - Tanya Flatley Junior Chorus Supervisors – Niamh Finnegan, Deirdre Guthrie, Caroline Guthrie, Elaine Loftus, Ineka Oates, Kerry Timlin. Lighting and Special Effects - Oisín Herraghty Lighting and Special Effects Assistant - Jack Jensen Lighting and Special Effects Technical Boss – Gearóid Herraghty Lighting (Spot) – Oisín Herraghty Make up – Gemma Gibbons-Moran Make up assisted by – Kayleigh McDonagh M.C. - Jimmy Murphy Musicians – Mick Buckton, Craig Donaldson, Donal Hoban, Bertrand Huve Photographs – Cast: Michael Donnelly 087) 2654747 @ www.mayopics.com Photographs – Stage: Pawel Lach Posters and Programme Cover - Conor McGuire @ Artworks Ballina 096) 73946 Programme Compilation and Editor - Karen Conway Program layout – Ronan O'Grady, Connaught Telegraph, Castlebar 094) 90217111 Programme/Ticket Sellers – Karen Conway, Sharon Lavelle, Jimmy Murphy, Tom McGrath, Mary Maughan and Ciara Whyte. Props Creations - Oisín Herraghty Runner - Alfie Jensen Set Design – Eugene Finnegan Construction - Eugene Finnegan and Oisín Herraghty Set Painting – Breda Burns Script – Doreen Moger Stage Manager - Jason Guthrie Stage Crew – Rowena Gillespie, Justin Guthrie, James Murray, Jimmy Murphy and Frank Starken Sound and Special Effects - Liam Feeney Sound and Special Effects Assistant - Gearóid Herraghty Website Compilation - Karen Conway |
With each one of Castlebar Pantomimes performances of “Sleeping Beauty” not only did the laughter and applause increase, but also the increased difficulty in getting a seat as word soon spread of the on stage talent. From the opening guest act “Watch This Space” under the tuition of Panto Choreographer Jason Guthrie, the spectacle covering different musical genres, through to the audiences cheers as the evil fairy Deadly Nightshade was beaten and it all ended happily ever after, it was widely agreed that Castlebar Pantomimes 2014 was a unique production. Under the guidance of Musical Director John Flatley the standard of singing reset the bar for future Pantomime productions with soloists from the Junior and Intermediate chorus of Kevin Donnelly, Taylor Flynn, Lynn Gaffney, Erin Heneghan, Nathan Henry, Mary Maughan, Susan Murphy, Erin Rice, Ciara Whyte along with the principle actors Niall Fahey, James Garvey, Mairead McDonnell, Ger McLoughlin, Aoife MaGee and Garry Wynne. Three numbers in particular were show stealers, with the seven strong mens chorus of Ronan Corcoran, Lar Davis, Shane Dunne, Niall Fahey, Jason Guthrie, Steven Niland, Graham Walsh who took the meaning of a ballad to new heights, Pantomime newcomer James Garvey from Castlebar who amazed audiences with his singing range from Tip Toe Through The Tulips, past an operatic piece and onto some Little Richard, last but not a Castlebar Pantomime veteran Mairead McDonnell from Manualla who sang a moving solo as “Sleeping Beauty” was laid to rest.
It is a rare Pantomime not to have a Dame and in his first venture as a Dame Ger McLoughlin from Claremorris proved to be a Dame and a half! For days after wards people were talking about how funny the 2014 Dame Nanny proved to be, but just as many wondered how he managed to last each each show in “those high heels”? Antoinette Starken won over every audience as the lovable Zipper in what was certainly her best role to date. Although some cast members were either in their first principle role or in their first stage role ever, through the direction of Donna Ruane they all won over their audiences. These included Gemma Todd as Fairy Snowdrop who appeared with the help of audience members Johann Collins, Brendan Cunningham, Darina Molloy, Joe O'Grady and Richie Wynne, along with her young fairies Aoife Fallon, Emma Heneghan, Niamh Kennedy, Paulina Piskorz, and Ella Wilson. Other Pantomime newcomers were Sandra Morely as Velcro who thought everything was “common, Aoife Magee who only stopped smiling as Princess Aurora (Sleeping Beauty) when the script required it, Niall Fahey from Castlebar who had them swooning in the aisles as Prince Nicholas, Shane Dunne from Carrowkennedy, Wesport as William who never thought he would be carried off stage so often by a Panto Dame and the usually very elegant Esther Henry from Sheeaune, Westport,who wore what was probably Castlebar Pantomimes most imaginative costume of a compost heap in, naturally the role of Compost. This year also saw the return of the all singing, acting Garry Wynne to the Pantomime stage as King Jolly, along with Natasha Crouch as the evil Deadly Nightshade who admirably contented with thundering boos from the audience. Of course being Pantomime not all ran smoothly, shoes caught dress hems, chairs were slipped off, books of spells were closed when they should have been opened, lights raised before stage prepared, lines were mixed up, crowns/wigs fell off, comments were thrown out to unsuspecting audience members and to the great delight of the audience Queen Merry and Sleeping Beauty made a rapid dash onto the stage when they should have been asleep, ah but that is Panto! In its 29th production since January 1986 special mention is to be made of Lar Davis, Jimmy Murphy and Tom McGrath who between them have either missed none or just one production since 1986. Along with Ballyvarry's Josephine Hall and Castlebar's Pat Gannon being two of the longest quick stepping members of the Senior Chorus, of which both ladies claim to have joined when they were twelve! Through a radio “Wish List” ran by presented Rita Scott, on the Sunday Matinee it was arranged that Amiee McLoughlin would see “Sleeping Beauty” with her Mother Ann along with cousins Leanne and Grace. Amiee absolutely delighted the cast at half time and Amiee wasted no time in making sure to let them know she wanted to look behind the scenes as well. It was a delight to assist Rita in her radio show and an absolute delight to have met Amiee and her family. Photos of the production will soon be available on this site, in the meantime audiences and previous cast members can look over previous productions going back to 1951. Also all are welcome to join the Castlebar Pantomime page on Facebook. Castlebar Pantomime would like to that its audience, sponsors and advertisers for helping cast and crew enjoy its most rewarding production to date – oh yes they would! |