7 Things to do this week...
1 HANSEL AND GRETEL: One of the greatest operas about children. Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel comes to the National Opera House on Saturday, February 22 at 8 p.m. This is a show full of sweet and beguiling music, which combines childlike simplicity with heart aching beauty. Humperdinck wanted a plot that ‘was not made up of murders, brutal deaths, operetta-like nonsense, or sugarsweet fairy tales’. However, do not be fooled. This is a story of greed and starvation, mouth-wateringly sugar-coated. Trouble at home. Two hungry children lost in a haunted forest. The lure of a gingerbread house. The frightening hocus pocus of the predatory Witch. And the smarts of the children who triumph in the end. All wrapped up in the delicious sound world of Engelbert Humperdinck’s operatic masterpiece. Amy Ní Fhearraigh plays Gretel and she has been described as ‘a natural stage performer, gifted with a fine soprano voice’. Raphaela Mangan assumes the role of Hansel and is renowned for his ‘superb lower register contralto tones’. The run-time for this show is two hours including an interval. 2 DANNY O’BRIEN: Award winning comedian Danny O’Brien makes a welcome return to Wexford this week for two intimate shows Upstairs in Mackens. His new hilarious show asks what happens when a standup comedian can no longer stand up? After a near career ending knee injury, O’Brien is too young for pilates and too unbalanced for yoga. In recent times, he has become a regular on TV and radio and has even opened for the likes of comedy legend Bill Burr. Danny will kick his first show off at 7.30 p.m. before following it up with another at 10 p.m. Tickets are priced at €18 and are available from www.lantern.ie or from their Main Street box office. 3 PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION: New Ross down through the ages will be shown at a New Ross Historical Society exhibition in St. Michael’s Pastoral Centre on Michael Street, New Ross, on Thursday at 8 p.m. Covering New Ross from the 1890 to 1910 period, there will also be a photographic journey through the seasons of New Ross’ natural history and a slideshow record of ‘The Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Bridge’. The cost is €5. 4 SOCIAL DANCE: Anyone interested in social dancing should take note of an event taking place in Marshalstown Community Centre this coming Friday, February 21. The hall will play host to its next social dancing session that night at 9.30 p.m. The events provide an ideal social outlet for people within rural communities. The music will be performed by Michelle Murphy and doors will open at 9.30 p.m. Dancing will begin at 10 p.m. Admission, including tea, will be €8. 6 CLOSER: Having already garnered some rave reviews after last week’s shows, there’s another chance to catch Wexford Drama Group’s wonderful production of ‘Closer’ at Wexford Arts Centre. A fascinating and wickedly funny play, it tells the story of four very different people searching for love in 1990’s London. The show features the acting talents of the fabulous foursome of Danielle Reck as Alice, Stephen Byrne as Dan, Seona O’Connor as Anna and Alan Fitzhenry as Larry and is directed by Paul Walsh. Tickets for the show are priced at €14 from www. wexfordartscentre.ie. 5 GOREY NIGHT RUN: The popular five kilometre race celebrates its fifth year, and over the last four years has raised over €50,000 for North Wexford Hospice Homecare. The event is open to adults and children, and begins from Gorey Library at 7.30 p.m. on Thursday, February 20. It promises to be a great night of fun and fresh air, with refreshments served afterwards. Search ‘Gorey Night Run’ on popupraces.ie or on Facebook to register. Online registration closes on Wednesday, February 19 but is open on the night itself until 5.30 p.m. 7 UNDER THE HAWTHORD TREE: On Sunday, February 23 at 7.30 p.m. the struggle of the Irish population during Great Famine of 1845 will be brought to life at the National Opera House. ‘Under the Hawthorn Tree’ is based on the internationally acclaimed book by award-winning author Marita Conlon-McKenna and follows the journey of three brave siblings as they fight for survival during the famine. When their father goes to find work and their mother leaves to find him, Eily, Michael and Peggy, starving and faced with the workhouse, embark on a treacherous journey to find the great aunts they have heard of only in stories. There are two school performances on Monday, February 24 at 10.30 a.m. and 1 p.m.