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December 2009 |
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CAST COMPLETE The Musical Society welcomes two new members to complete the front line of SWEENEY TODD. The popular baritone Derek Ryan, well known to audiences in Tipperary, Clonmel, Thurles, Dublin’s Rathmines and Rathgar, as well appearing on numerous Concert stages, plays the part of evil Judge Turpin. Waterford’s Ray Collins will hit the high notes, and boy are they high, in the role of Pirelli, the charlatan barber who is challenged by Sweeney Todd, helping him to establish his reputation as THE barber of Fleet Street. Things are really humming at the moment. Director Tony Finegan completed his first block of rehearsals last week, working with some of the Principals. He returns next week, Monday through Thursday, to continue production on this “monstrous” Musical. Only Societies of the calibre and bravery of the Carrick Society would dare to tackle the Stephen Sondheim classic. Chorus Mistress Catriona O’Dwyer is putting the super Chorus through its paces. Early indications are that SWEENEY TODD will surpass all previous Productions in the Society’s 67 year history.
Meanwhile the Society is busy organising the Monster Christmas BINGO, which takes over the Strand Theatre on Friday 18th. December. Lots of super prizes to be won. On the following afternoon, Saturday 19th. December at 3 p.m., the children from the Academy for the Performing Arts, and members of the Musical Society, will present a smashing Christmas entertainment in the Strand Theatre. Santa Claus and his friends will pay a visit and it will be the perfect start to the Christmas festivities. Admission at €5 is a bargain and a full house should be guaranteed. Children of all ages, from two to ninety two will love this Christmas extravaganza . Book your ticket now at the Strand Theatre Box Office 051 645050. It’s a snip at €5, and SANTA WILL BE THERE.
AN UNSUNG HEROINE
FADA TORPEY COADY ( 1942 - 2009 ) The Musical Society suffered its third major loss of the year with the recent death of Fada Torpey Coady. Following the sudden deaths of John Stuart in April, and Noel Treacy in May, the brave Fada soldiered on with her terminal illness, which she never seemed to countenance, as she carried on with her busy, normal life, never succumbing to her illness. Chemo and other debilitating procedures didn’t seem to faze her. She still walked across town almost every day to do her shopping and meet friends.
Perusing past programmes of the Musical Society, the name of Fada Torpey, later Fada Coady, appears, over many years, first in Chorus, then as a Dancer, and when her family arrived, prominently in Front of House. The nightly raffle during performances was taken on by Fada after the death of Eddie Lyons, and how she revelled in its success. Not content with her Raffle duties, Fada was also very prominent in the Booking Office, and never seemed to tire of selling tickets, for performance or raffle, leading to one of the Musical Society members suggesting that there should have been a raffle at her Requiem Mass. Fada would have approved.
Due to her illness, Fada was not at her Raffle Station during the recent Panto ROBINSON CARUSO, but she kept tabs on progress, and vowed to be back for SWEENEY TODD in early March. The Lord had other ideas, and called her home, to join her husband Billy, who died suddenly just a few weeks after playing the lead in THE BAKER’S WIFE, in 1995. Had the recession spread to Heaven ? Did the Lord need someone to help balance the books ? Fada will be there to help organise things for him. May her gentle soul rest in peace. DM.
FORGET YOUR SHOPPING This Friday 11th. December, the Musical Society hosts a monster Christmas BINGO at the Strand Theatre. It promises to be an evening of fun, with a chance to win a nice little bonanza to help with the Christmas shopping. It will be a great night, so bring your friends.
Two weeks to Christmas, and the Cast of SWEENEY TODD have been busy all the week with Director Tony Finnegan, rehearsing, not shopping, and just to make things even more memorable, Musical Director Fergal Carroll, dropped in on Monday night last to put a polish on Chorus Mistress Catriona O’Dwyer’s excellent work with the Chorus, leaving Fergal, and Catriona, with satisfied smiles on their faces. Director Tony is more than happy with progress on his second tranch of rehearsals, leaving things in good shape before the Christmas break.
In her spare time Catriona is running the members through a few carols in preparation for the Christmas Concert in the Strand Theatre on Saturday 19th. December at 3 pm. Together with children from the Academy for the Performing Arts, and Santa Claus, of course, the Concert will run for an hor and a quarter approx., and with admission at only €5, should prove to be a sell-out.
The Musical Society extends sympathy to the family of the late, great Liam Clancy, who died last week. The Clancy family have always had a close relationship with the Musical Society, his sisters Joan and Peg played principal roles in the 1950s and 60s. His nephew Liam Butler is a prominent member, and two of his grandnieces are in the chorus of SWEENEY TODD. May his gentle soul join with Paddy, Tom and Bobby, and Tommy Makem and raise a bit of riotous fun in Heaven.
BIGGER THAN JEKYLL ! It’s hard to imagine a Show that’s bigger than JEKYLL AND HYDE, which the Musical Society staged four years ago. It was a monstrous production and the Society did a superlative job on it, leaving audiences, in modern language, gobsmacked ! Director Tony Finnegan, who has been working with the Cast of SWEENEY TODD, told them at his last pre Christmas rehearsal, how delighted he was with Cast and progress, to date. Then he dropped the bombshell about the enormous challenge that SWEENEY presented. Bigger than JEKYLL AND HYDE !
There’s a great buzz around rehearsals, leaving one and all with a great feeling that SWEENEY is going to be something really special. John O’Donoghue has designed a super Set, and backstage team of Michael O’Hara, Ger Dunphy and John Prendergast are at work already, making John’s design a reality. It will be the perfect setting for what promises to be a sensational production.
Chorus Mistress Catriona O’Dwyer has the Chorus in great shape and even composer Stephen Sondheim would be impressed.. Mark it in your diary, 8 performances only, Saturday 27th. February to Saturday 6th. March 2010. It will be a theatrical highlight.
This Friday, 18th December, the Society’s Christmas BINGO will kick off a real festive week-end. Lots of super prizes in the comfort of the luxurious Strand Theatre. It will be followed on Saturday afternoon, 19th. December, with a Christmas Concert, at 3pm. It’s only a fiver and Santa will be there. Loads of fun for kids from two to ninety two. Don’t miss the BINGO and the CHRISTMAS CONCERT.
GREETINGS AND THANKS The Musical Society extends Christmas Greetings to all its Patrons, Supporters, Sponsors and friends, and thanks them for their wonderful support, not only over the past twelve months, but down through the years. The Society is especially indebted to the members of the Media, Print, Radio and TV, who have given great and continued support to the Society. In its illustrious history the Society has touched the lives of thousands of people, on stage, backstage, front of house, production and in the audience. Indeed there is scarcely a family in the town or hinterland that has not had some connection with the Society. Merry Christmas one and all.
The Officers and Committee would especially like to thank the Casts who have graced the Strand Theatre stage during 2009., not forgetting the 92 children who participated in the recent Panto, and their parents who kept an eye on things during rehearsals and performance. Also to all the kids in the Academy for the Performing Arts and their tutors, who gave such pleasure at the Christmas Concert on Saturday afternoon last. The Society wishes one and all a Happy, Peaceful and Musical Christmas.
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