KILLORGLIN PANTO TIME

FOR Declan Mangan, this is the time of year he enjoys most – well almost as much as Puck Fair – and, once again, he’s preparing to take part in what he reckons is his 53rd consecutive year performing with the Killorglin Pantomime group.

Speaking to The Kerryman, Declan and the rest of his talented troupe said that they are busy putting the final touches to ‘The Wizard of Oz’, and they’re ready and waiting for a rather busy two weeks of performances in the CYMS Hall in Killorglin.

There will be eight performances in the venue, starting on Saturday, January 19, and continuing until the final show on Sunday, February 3.

“It’s opening with a matinee performance on Saturday January 19 at 3pm in the CYMS hall. We have another matinee on Sunday, January 20, and then the night shows begin on Wednesday, January 23, until Saturday the 26th, and then there is further a matinee on Sunday January 27,” said Declan.

“The following week we usually go to the INEC but this year there’s a change and we’re doing an extra matinee performance in Killorglin on Sunday, February 3,” he continued.

Declan said, with a smile, that there’s been a little more worry this year compared to previous years as he and the rest of the cast fretted over his role. Declan traditionally plays the part of an older, let’s say matronly dame – the kind of character absent from this year’s production.

“There is no traditional dame character in this story, so there has been a bit of worry about

what would happen to poor old me this year,” he joked.

“Not to spoil the show, but let’s say that we have figured out a way to insert a dame into it. I think people will enjoy it.”

This year’s production will be directed by Jackie Hurley, who has been the group’s resident choreographer for the past 10 years.

Declan says that Jackie brings youth, vision and enthusiasm to the role.

Tickets for any of the upcoming shows are available to buy from the box office at CYMS Hall and will cost €15.

Some of the dancers in this year’s Killorglin Pantomime: Aisling Murphy; (back from left)Alanna O’Sullivan, Zara Ashe, Sinead Horgan and Geraldine O’Sullivan.

All set for this year’s Killorglin Pantomime, The Wizard of Oz, are Lisa Kingston, Leila Mulvihill, Anna Kingston (back from left) Ines Mulvihill, Emma Crowley, Molly Kingston and Alexandra Mulvihill.

All photos by Michelle Cooper Galvin ‘The Witch’ Irene Kavanagh; ‘Scarecrow’ Shona Murphy; ‘Thin Lizzy’ Declan Mangan; ‘Dorothy’ Bronagh Murphy and ‘The Lion’ Chris Brennan put the finishing touches to this year’s Killorglin Pantomime, The Wizard of Oz, with matinees on January 19, 20 and 27;, and February 3 at 3pm; and nightly shows on the January 23, 24, 25 and 26 at 8pm.

Sean Coffey, Catherine Landers and David Piggott, stage manager working on the sets for this year’s Killorglin Panto.