Panto days on the way!
REHEARSALS ARE UNDERWAY FOR ANOTHER GREAT SHOW AND CAROLINE KAVANAGH POPPED ALONG TO SEE SOME OF THE STARS GOING THROUGH THEIR PACES...
HE’S behind you! Oh no he’s not! Oh yes he is! The traditional responses to the annual panto haven’t changed over the generations, and our love for the locally-produced and staged panto remain solid. With Sleeping Beauty being staged from Friday 30 November – Sunday 2 December in The Barbican, rehearsals are already underway.
‘I was in the very first Drogheda pantomime 69 years ago and I am the only person still involved from the beginning,’ said panto veteran Pat Donaghy, nee Caffrey. Pat’s late father Tec was a comedy legend. ‘ My father was a very quiet reserved man off-stage about once he got going there was no stopping him! He was a very funny man.’
Pat was in the dancers for the first few years then I was selling programmes, and my mother sewed costumes and made tea. My brother Ronan Caffrey was also involved – he was even on stage in his pram! He is now Panto President.’
Former chorus-girl and principal boy is Fiona O’Connell, now writer, producer and director of the panto.’ Yes, I actually write the whole panto now and I jot down things all year that will entertain our local audiences, and use a lot of stories from real life,’ she explained. ‘I have spent years watching and learning what makes people laugh – and you don’t need to go to college to know that!’
‘I joined in 1979 in the chorus line and played everything since then – even the front or back of the horse!’ With no stage schools around in the 1970s, Fiona recalls playing and dancing on the street when she was spotted by Cora Morgan who was reforming the panto that year after a break. ‘My sisters and friends all joined and we made some great friends in the panto. Cora Morgan was there, Noeleen Mohan, Teresa McHale, and of course, the great Jimmy, Tec and Joe, and Sculler Leech. There will never be anybody like Tec Caffery who was a natural comedian on or off the stage.’
Fiona remembers Pat Donaghy doing the wardrobe, with Gay Martin making the costumes. ‘My mother Marian Murtagh was involved in making costumes, and of course, was one of the Tea Ladies! Lily Tormey was panto secretary for a long time. Singer Timmy Regan was with us for years. We will never forget the late great Robbie Tiernan who was a real all-rounder who did our electrical work as well as performing.’
Drogheda’s wealth of talent is clear to see, both past and present. The recent auditions were very well attended. ‘ This is not a closed shop and is open to everyone to take part,’ said Elaine O’Brien. ‘Even if kids only do one year they will remember it forever. New people bring new ideas and inspiration.’
‘A good number of our chorus children go on to appear in the Dublin pantos which is great to see,’ said Fiona.
What’s important when on stage is for the audience to hear and understand the dialogue, so Fiona is quite strict on diction and pronunciation. ‘Actors must speak clearly and must walk properly on stage. The audience must get the full theatre experience. I attend a lot of live theatre and pick up tips. Doris Day was my biggest influence – I loved her clothes and appearance.’
Back after a break is Simple Simon John Kirwan. ‘I get great enjoyment out of the panto. I joined in 1979 and in the first year I played 7 different parts, and Simple Simon ever since! It’s like a big family and I enjoy the company. Although I love being on stage I am very quiet off-stage! The scripts are great but I am known for ad-libbing and adding in my own bits!’
Playing Maelificent is the witchy Elaine O’Brien, now in the panto 20 years. ‘My first was Sleeping Beauty and I was auditioned by Gay Martin and Joe Cluskey who died shortly after that. I have mainly played witches in the pantos, but also had a character ‘ Terrible Tracey’ and I played Principal Boy in Jack & the Beanstalk up in the Rosnaree. I have found myself in the witch, and this year I model myself on Angelina Jolie!’
Elaine is from Swords and used to take part in The John Player Tops of the Towns. She is now panto secretary. ‘I love the craic in the panto! Fiona has great lines in it. Although we are great friends, she never leaks the script and is really professional as producer.’
‘I get great feedback in the salon (Sapphir hair) and my family knows that I’m busy until Christmas – the panto is a huge commitment. We are only amateurs, but our panto is as good as any professional show,’ said Elaine. ‘ The Barbican feels like home now as it is where the old Parochial Centre was. There’s a great buzz backstage as we hear the audience coming in and know there’s a crowd. I have to admit that I do get nerves before a show, but the minute I get on the stage I’m grand.’
‘I sold programmes in The Gate Cinema when I was young,’ remembered Bernie Smith. ‘And we used to travel to Dundalk, Navan and Castleblayney with the panto – with people like Jim Robinson, Thomas Leech and Robbie O’Neill, all deceased now. I’d say that Jack & The Beanstalk was the best panto ever as the giant was amazing! But then last year Little Red Riding Hood was brilliant!’
Helping Bernie with the wardrobe is Siobhan Kelly, Fiona’s sister. ‘I was in the chorus of The Teddy Bear’s Picnic when I was small, and now I’m back as my own children are involved. I was also in Humpty Dumpty and Mother Goose. I played a rabbit one year and Harry Martin sang ‘Bright Eyes’ to me! It’s a family tradition really –and this is the 3rd generation as my mother Marian was a seamstress in the Parochial Cen-
tre, then I was in it and now my children. Helping her mother make the sambos were Pauline Milne, Annette Leech, Annette McDonnell and Gay Martin. Other Tea Ladies were Marie Leddy, Mona McGinn and Gertie Finnegan – who made lovely egg& onion sandwiches!’
In the chorus along with Anne Wynn, Rita Black, Evelyn McConnon, Trisha Sullivan Copas, Marie Briscoe, Cora Fay Morgan, when she was just 10 is Angela McDonnell. ‘ There were so many funny stories over the years! My father was John Donnelly who was a drummer and played in the first panto. He played with Louis Smith, Polly O’Connor and others. You could say that I have show business in my blood!’
‘We have massive support from our local audiences and from local business and shops who give us raffle prizes, donations, ads for the programme, spot prizes and so much more. And this year our professionals are giving their services for free to help us out of this financial hobble.’
Giving all their proceeds to local charities, the panto accepts applications for each night’s proceeds from schools, clubs, groups and associations.
This year’s 5 shows run from Friday 30 November – Sunday 2 December in the Barbican. ‘Shows cost a fortune to put on from venue hire, lights and sound, to choreography, scenic artist, advertising, etc. But this year, a number of professionals are giving their services for free because our budget is so tiny,’ said Fiona.
‘We must be Ireland’s longest running amateur panto!’ boasted Elaine. Next year marks the 70th anniversary of Drogheda Pantomime Society and already a major production is planned – and Fiona is keeping it under wraps!
‘Only for the people of Drogheda we wouldn’t have lasted this long,’ said Fiona. ‘ Thank you!’