Congratulations to all who received awards in Liam Murphys end of year review for the Munster Express 2014 YEAR IN REVIEW 2014 will be a year Waterford Arts and Theatre people will not forget in a hurry. The untimely passing of director/composer, Bryan Flynn ripped the heart out of musical theatre people across the country. The scenes at his funeral were deeply sad and a recent tribute, The Life Of Bryan at the Theatre Royal was such a sad occasion. I find it hard to think of Bryan as not being there anymore, and I go into Cork Opera House and expect to see him. Red Kettle Theatre Company went into liquidation, and there were recrimination and rescue attempts, some of which are still going on. There are those who think now is the time to put faith in the next generation of arts and theatre makers, and I feel conflicted here, but look to the future and the new wave coming out of Youth and Stage schools. It is sad that such memories and achievements of Waterfords only professional theatre company were blighted by legal action and sometimes intemperate accusations, as to whom or what was to blame. A certain magic has ebbed away, and the stage is temporarily darkened. A Waterford opera, The Invader arrived with great fanfare and funding. The effects on the arts of the City and County merger has yet to emerge, but it was ground-breaking that the new Council held a public meeting in Dungarvan to discuss the local needs and expectations on how best to use the Town Hall Theatre. Out of this at least one new theatre group, Curtain Call Productions, proudly announced their existence with a large cast play. It remains to be seen if this consultation process will happen in the City, but behind-the-scenes moves concerning Red Kettle makes me more than dubious about the open or transparent nature that should be there, when it is public money that is being allocated. Funding will be tight, the impact of Stage schools is coming on-stream and the way Waterford City and County reacts to 1916 Commemorations, and European Region of Culture in 2020 will define the landscape of the arts and a future 5-year plan. Theatre & Plays It was a great year for plays and both Theatre Royal and Garter Lane provided a good mix of one-night and two-night productions. The theatre, Up Andy Jordans Lane (now Central Arts), enticed me with a fine Boxer, written and directed by James Rockett. Jordans Rigout and Eadaoin Breathnach provided an unusual, Lackendara Jim, with Paul Dillon in bilingual form. Kieran Doyle was memorable with Not A Game For Boys, directed by Ben Hennessy. Waterford Dramatic Society kept their flag fluttering with two, one-act plays where Tobie Hickey excelled. Joe Meagher produced a classy no-frills, 5 Short Works by Samuel Beckett, that would grace any festival. The Ranting Rebels showed their dedication in Garter Lane with, Steel Magnolias, where Anita OKeeffe was remarkable. They also staged a new work, Broken, by their founder/director, Fergus Cooper. Stagemad staged Noel Kellys, Runners, again showing support for Waterford writing. In New Ross, I saw an excellent Drama Festival, and Brideview Drama wowed me with 13 Rue de LAmour, with a stunning set by Mary Colette Sheehan and James Ahearn. I also saw an excellent, Hound of the Baskervilles, there as well. Ben Barnes directed Wexfour to celebrate 40 years of Wexford Arts Centre, featuring four short plays from Colm Toibin, John Banville, Eoin Colfer and Billy Roche. I also saw Paul OBriens site-specific play, One Last Long Breath. Waterford -born writer/journalist Liam Heylin had a rehearsed reading of, Hung Juror, in Corks Everyman Palace Theatre, and Colm Power directed a challenging large cast production of Brian Friels, Freedom of the City for Carricks, Brewery Lane Theatre. Dungarvan created a revamped mood with public meetings to discuss the future direction of the Town Hall Theatre, and out of that process, came a new company, Curtain Call Productions and they produced another large cast production of One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest, where Kris Cowming as McMurphy and Emma Walsh as Nurse Ratchet shone. The Dungarvan Dramatic Club rose to the challenge magnificently with, Cat On a Hot Tin Roof, where Mary Kelly impressed as Big Mama and Emma Walsh sizzled as Maggie the Cat. Their production of Da was memorable and showed the strength in depth of this company. It surprises me that none of these groups are involved in the current confidential talks about a new professional theatre company for Waterford. It was a feast at Garter Lane where Jim Nolan directed three major works. His latest play, Dreamland, was superb, and it was great to see at long last a Waterford production of his Abbey commissioned play, Blackwater Angel. Opera/Musicals During the Barrack Street Band concert in the Theatre Royal, the compere Brian Merriman lamented the passing of the Waterford International Festival of Light Opera, and there was an immediate response from the capacity audience. Richie Hayes reprised his hit production, Avenue Q, and Dermot Keyes and Irene Malone shone in Carrick Musical Societys, Evita. New Ross Musical Society did Whistle Down The Wind, and their director, Bill Stafford excelled with the Irish premiere of, The Addams Family, for Avonmore Co Wicklow. Kilkenny Musical Society with Christine Scarry directing, presented a splendid Michael Collins at The Watergate, where I also enjoyed Opera Theatres, The Elixir of Love. I enjoyed several operas in Wexford and loved the Everyman Palace Cork version of Der Vampyr. Ben Barnes directed the memorable, The Invader by Mark Roper and Eric Sweeney at the Theatre Royal and Wexford Opera House (now the National Opera House) St Michaels Theatre Musical Society showed how well they are adapting to the top ranks in AIMS with an exciting Evita. Panto I only got to see four pantos, and I enjoyed the New Ross, Hansel and Gretel; Portlaws. Old King Cole; Tramore Musical Societys, Robin Hood Meets Frankenstein with Izzy Carr in the lead. The Richie Hayes directed Sleeping Beauty for Waterford Panto Society with Erica Delaney Hayes providing scintillating choreography, was a fast-paced modern entertainment. Youth/Stage School This was another rich harvest from the Youth and Stage Schools. South Eastern Theatre Group revisited a crowd-pleasing, The Phantom of the Opera. Little Red Kettle bowed out (temporarily) with, The Quest, at the Theatre Royal. Waterford Ballet Academy excited with Hansel and Gretel and Edel Quinlan of Centre Stage School presented a happy, Giselle, and a seasonal, Nutcracker Ballet. The Richie Hayes Stage School shone with Annie Junior and a short-form, Hairspray, before becoming, TheatreBox Stage School with added academic credentials, where Jamie Nagle now carries on the successful school. His Theatre Showtime at Garter Lane was impressive. De La Salle College rocked with Guys and Dolls under Vicki Grahams assured direction. David Hennessy Stage School wowed me with Joseph and His Amazing Technicolored Dream Coat, and a splendid The Addams Family, where Holly Ryan was awesome. David Hennessy morphed into the David Hennessy Musical and Dramatic Society for a splendid, Into The Woods with David Hayes as Musical Director. Waterford Youth Arts stepped up to the plate with a Jim Nolan directed, The Crucible with some fine performances, especially from Shane OSullivan. Concerts & Comedy It was a pity Christ Church Cathedral decided not to continue with an Arts Manager, but before that slow process of decision making, they put on at least four memorable concerts: New Dublin Voices; Attacca Quartet, DAlba and Chamorel and an exciting Goitse concert. Music at the Museum seemed to have lost my contact details, just as they had a confusing definition of opera, but I enjoyed a wonderful Caroline Reid OBrien concert and a magnificent, Madrigallery concert that was amazing in the space. Kevin OCarroll deserves great praise for his impressive work with Madrigallery and the Waterford Concert Orchestra. Liam Daly revitalised SCOW and there were two standout concerts, the internationally renowned Black Dyke Brass and the RTENSO with trumpet virtuoso, Hakan Hardenberger. On the comedy front Tony Corcoran and The Bilberry Goats were excellent and memorable. Ad Hoc Chorale brought Love Is Divine to St Marys Church Ballygunner. The Barrack Street Concert Band filled the Theatre Royal and a new roots band, In The Willows launched at Garter Lane. Art Exhibitions it was a good year for Art Exhibitions, with Aoifes Gallery, 33 The Mall establishing itself as a prime location. Memorable work from there was: Adrian Cooke Drawings; Clare Scotts Surf Stone Shore Bone excellent showing; Emma Campbell (Inca Effect), and Ken ONeills large scale Gangster and Seasonal imagery. A new gallery Scapari opened in Baileys New Street with Rosemary Dulson and Aiden Dunne to the fore. The Old Market House Arts Centre Dungarvan had several attractive shows and Annabel Konig was the most memorable, after Tony Oakey. At Soma there was a Ruth Flynn performance art piece and The Bunny Collective was a wow. At the Index Gallery, a range of artists got an initial showing. I liked particularly Orlaith Hamersley. Garter Lane impressed with John ORegans Ten Mile Radius, and Steamdream, a multi- media extravaganza curated by Evelyn Power (Garter Lane) and Colm Dunphy (WIT). At the top of Castle Street, a Roisin OShea mural for Waterford Task Force was a glorious work in progress over months of collaborative work. At Mother of Pearl Tramore, I loved Serendipity 5 and at the Coastguard Creative centre I loved work from Aidan Walsh and Marjorie Cunningham. Blawin Clancy had two wonderful shows, one at The Bank Dungarvan and the other at The Clancy Gallery Ring. The impressive Imagine Festival had excellent art exhibitions that were a mix of genres and a distinct and impressive international class as well. Books A fertile year on the publication front and I remember several Tom OBrien books especially his, The Waterford Collection (3 plays). Alan Garveys fine poetry collection, Avalanche of Shadow; Anne Farrells excellent, Folk Tales of Kilkenny: Jim Nolans playscript, Dreamland. John Ennis brought out a curious collection, Postponing Asbyrgi in tribute to Sigur Ros, and a family memoir, A Pullet For Jack. Eibhear Walshe had an impressive, The Diary Of Mary Travers and two books came out of Lismore: Alan Murphys Prometheus Unplugged and Jim Hydes second small but beautiful book of poems -New Season Lights. Elaine Nolan produced Evolve as well as, Of Heroes And Kings, that she wrote as a commuter on the Dublin train. LIAM MURPHYS BEST OF THE YEAR Best Play: Dreamland (Jim Nolan) Best New Play: Dreamland (Jim Nolan) Best Musical: Evita (Carrick Musical Society) Best Set: Brideview Drama Group Best Director: Ben Barnes Best Choreographer: Erica Delaney Hayes Best Spectacle: Imagine Festival Best Performer: Irene Malone (Carrick Evita) Best Concert: Madrigallery Best Actor: Kieran Doyle Best Actress: Emma Walsh (Dungarvan) Best Youth (F): Holly Ryan Best Youth (M): Shane OSullivan (The Crucible) Best Comedy: The Bilberry Goats Best Art: Steamdream @ Garter Lane Best Book: Tom OBrien
Posted on: Tue, 30 Dec 2014 15:17:41 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015