ENNISCORTHY MUSICAL SOCIETY’S ‘PETER PAN’ PACKS THE ATHENAEUM
ENNISCORTHY MUSICAL SOCIETY’S PRODUCTION OF ‘PETER PAN’ AT THE ATHENAEUM
PANTOMIME made a triumphant return to the Enniscorthy stage with the hugely successful Peter Pan at the Athenaeum. The Enniscorthy Musical Society production, under the guidance of Gearoid McCauley, played to packed audiences for four nights and two matinees, delighting young and old alike.
One audience member who went home happy was the renowned Emmy-nominated singer Michael Londra, who said: ‘Congrats to all involved in Peter Pan. Loved it. It was really fun – although I did have the worst sugar hangover from the bonbons in the shop!’
Michael also praised producer and director Gearoid, saying: ‘He did a brilliant job and brought music back to Enniscorthy kids. Brilliant.’
Leading the talented cast was Edward O’Dowd and Emma O’Leary as Peter Pan and Tinkerbell.
Local rising stars Cailín Mullett, Christopher Kelly and Sean Milbourne joined the Boy Who Will Never Grow Up on his adventures, as Wendy, Michael and John Darling.
No panto would be complete without some evil villains and they came in the form of the nasty Captain Hook (Jim Kealy) and mean Ms Hardigan ( Therese Canavan Bolger). These veteran actors were joined by comedy team Caroline O’Connell, Alice Medcalf and Corah Dobbs, playing the hilarious Widow Smeesmoo, and her two dim-witted sons, Smee and Smoo.
It was the first time in nearly 30 years that panto has been performed in Enniscorthy, and the nightly full houses proved the decision to resurrect the festive stage show was a wise one.
The production was the brainchild of local teacher and long-time member of Enniscorthy Musical Society, Gearoid McCauley, who was simply over the moon with how the production went.
‘It was fantastic. We were overhwelmed with support we got from the town,’ said Gearoid. ‘Due to the size of the venue we couldn’t accommodate everyone who wanted to see it. But the feedback we got from those who saw it has been really positive.
‘I’d like to thank the chairperson of our musical society, Anne Maguire, and the committee, for the Trojan work they did. Also, musical director Tvette Walsh and choreographer Anne Marie Cooney were superb.
‘But the real stars were the cast of more than 70 children, it was a fantastic turnaround to get this on stage after only five weeks of rehearsals,’ added Gearoid.