Big crowd thoroughly charmed by sense of fun

A NEARCAPACITY crowd happily joined in the final choruses of the Beatles’ Hey Jude and cheered the stirring performance of Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody, which were the culminating songs in a charming evening of entertainment staged by the Dublin Irish Tenors and the Celtic Ladies at the Glenroy Auditorium last night.

Starting out with traditional Irish songs Danny Boy, Scarborough Fair and Cockles and Mussels, the ensemble presented a significantly varied repertoire ranging from a selection of songs from popular operas Les Miserables and Carmen and individual numbers such as O Sole Mio to standards from Broadway and film and 1960s popular classics such as Twist and Shout.

There were enough highlights to win vigorous cheers from the audience and to gladden every heart and put a twinkle in every eye.

Standout winners of the evening included Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah, Queen’s We Are The Champions, Frank Sinatra’s That’s Life as well as the Irish standards Take You Home Again Kathleen, When Irish Eyes Are Smiling and Whisky in the Jar.

The stage was enhanced with coloured lights and there were many fast costume changes to keep the show ticking along at a good pace.

All singers have good voices, though they all relied on their microphones. The recorded music kept the show moving slickly along and the choreographed moves of the singers were also well polished.

But for all of that, the singers performed with great energy, giving the impression that some of the moves might have been improvised.

Their infectious sense of fun was excellently communicated to the audience, who remained thoroughly charmed throughout the evening.

Good fun.