Oh yes it has... panto goes virtual

KILLORGLIN PANTO MARKS 58TH ANNIVERSARY WITH UNIQUE ‘VIRTUAL’ SHOW

IT will be on a completely different scale - none of the crowds, the chorus or the characters but the tale of Hansel and Gretel will be brought to life ‘virtually’ by a small number of members of Killorglin Pantomime Group this year.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the pantomime group, which has been taking to the stage for the past 57 years, wanted to do something to mark the annual show so they have decided to take it online.

“There is only a cast of seven and it is very different. We have been having rehearsals on Zoom and we had hoped to record it this week but we have to re-think that,” said Dame Declan Mangan.

Declan has been involved in Killorglin Pantomime for every single of the 57 shows and of course he is again leading this year’s virtual show in his role.

This without doubt is the most unique one he has taken part in but of course it is missing what Pantomime is all about the audience and the community but as the saying goes ‘The show must go on’ and that is what Declan is hoping will happen next month when retrictions are lifted to allow a recording of the online show to take place. This will then be released to the public.

“We have to wait until restrictions are lifted now as we can’t record it so it will be late February hopefully. The world will have to wait.

“Obviously everybody is missing it but we have to be realistic. .. It is a big tradition but

if we have to give up Puck we can give up the Pantomime too!,” he said.

For the 58th pantomime the group have reverted to the story of Hansel and Gretel previously staged on three occasions over its 58-year history and most famously as a fundraiser for the Festival of Kerry festival, now the Rose of Tralee, in the Ashe Memorial Hall in Tralee.

With such depth of history in one group many of the well-known fables have been re-told by the group including it’s recent production of Cinderella. Over the years it has been Julia Caesar, Red Riding Hood, The Wizard of Oz, Sleeping Beauty, Pinocchio and Treasure Island to name but a few of the long list of productions.

No doubt the community as much as the participants are missing it and it will be a very different Killorglin this January without the hype and fun that the pantomime brings every year. It is not just fun though that it brings it is also an important fundraiser in the community with St Joseph’s Home in Killorglin one of the key beneficiaries. Last years funds were also raised to help two local girls who are battling cancer. It is hoped this year’s show can still raise some funds for St Joseph’s when it goes online next month, depending on restrictions, but mostly it hopes to bring laughter and joy in the midst of the pandemic.

Copyright Michelle Cooper Galvin Killorglin 2020 Krystal Cronin, Cody McCormack, Chris Brennan, Sophianne Horgan and Declan Mangan in the KCYMS, Killorglin.

Copyright Michelle Cooper Galvin Killorglin 2006 Hazel Devane, Pat and Brian O’Sullivan in the Killorglin Panto.

Killorglin 2004 LEFT: Declan Mangan as Julia, Anne Coffey as Cleopatra and Finbarr as Julius Caesar in Killorglin Pantomine ‘Julia Caesar’ in the CYMS Killorglin

Copyright Michelle Cooper Galvin Killorglin 2020 RIGHT: Some of the Chorus who performed in the 2020 Killorglin Panto: Geraldine O’Sullivan, Carmel O’Brien, Magdaena Chorowzewska, Mairead Cane and Angie Donoghue at the KCYMS, Killorglin.

Copyright Michelle Cooper Galvin Killorglin 1986 Finbarr Coffey and Bernadette O’Mahony starring in Treasure Island in 1986.

Copyright Michelle Cooper Galvin. Killorglin 2013 Killorglin Panto stars Priscilla Goose (Hazel Devane, The Fairy (Aoife Flynn), Mother Goose (Declan Mangan) and The Demon (Irene Kavanagh) at rehearsals for the 50th Panto.