Ballinrobe Musical Society returns with hilarious comedy for Mayo to enjoy
by Patrick Hennelly
AFTER three years of forced inactivity due to the Covid-19 pandemic Ballinrobe Musical Society will be back with a bang tomorriw (Sunday) when their production of ‘Me And My Girl’ kicks off for the first of seven shows in Ballinrobe Community School at 4 p.m..
This production is a hilarious, heart-warming comedy that will appeal to audiences of all ages.
Set in 1930s London, ‘Me And My Girl’ tells the story of Bill, a cheeky but loveable Cockney from the working-class streets of Lambeth.
Through unlikely circumstances, Bill learns that he is heir to the Earl of Hareford and soon inherits wealth beyond his wildest dreams.
However, Bill will only inherit the estate if Sir John and the Duchess of Dene approve of him.
The Duchess feels that with a little grooming, Bill will be suitable to inherit the title – and the money. However, Bill outright refuses her request that he break up with his girlfriend, Sally.
Hilarity ensues between Bill and the upper-class Hareford clan, who are not used to his bluntness and bizarre colloquialisms.
Inevitably, Bill struggles to learn the proper etiquette and adjust to the spiffy parties involved in being a nobleman.
Ballinrobe Musical Society chairman and Clare native Kenneth McCarthy has been involved with the society since 2003 and replaced Des Treacy as chairman.
McCarthy will also continue on in his role as stage manager and said that there was an awful lot of pent up demand for the musical when the group held their auditions for this production.
He said: “There was an awful lot of interest when we held our auditions and subsequently we have managed to acquire a lot of new talent.
"‘Me And My Girl’ is an old favourite and Ballinrobe society actually performed this show 21 years ago and there is still great interest in the town for this show.
"We still have a few society members involved in this show who were performing this production back in 2002 and they are playing the same characters.
“For example, Richard Crumlish is back as ‘Herbert Parchester’ and Gerry Hughes has returned as ‘Sir Jasper Tring’ and is a role that he is really looking forward to."
After an enforced three-year break for Ballinrobe Musical Society due to Covid-19, McCarthy wondered if the group would be able to recruit the numbers but was astonished by the positive response.
“We thought that it might be a challenge at first, but we had a massive turnout for auditions which gave us the confidence that it would be up and running again. I think we have over 40 people involved in the show.
"The closer the show gets, the more volunteers we are seeing emerge and helping out in any way possible.
“There will be anything from 16 to 20 bodies back stage helping with the running of the show and getting the various sets ready. Overall, between cast and crew - we have 140 to 160 people involved.”
For decades the annual show was performed in the famous old town hall in Cornmarket, before being moved to Ballinrobe Community School in the mid to late ‘90s.
Whilst McCarthy is thrilled to have the use of the excellent community school facility, he dreams of the day that the show will debut in the new town hall (The Valkenburg).
“I would like to also take this opportunity to thank William Culkeen (Ballinrobe Community School principal) for being so accommodating. It is great to be able to use the community school.
"It would be nice to be using the new town hall in the next three to four years and our first production in the new facility will be a fantastic occasion.”
Kenneth is also grateful that Des Treacy is still involved in the committee.
“Des Treacy is very encouraging and he is always on the end of the phone if I need any advice. Des is still in the committee and his input and experience is great to have.
"For me personally, it is a big step up from stage manager to also being the chairperson, but they are roles that I am enjoying and we are all looking forward to this upcoming production.”
WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE
Niall Conway plays the role of ‘Sir John Tremayne’ and the Ballinrobe Musical Society veteran brings a wealth of experience to the group.
Conway received the AIMS award for best supporting actor in 2016 for his portrayal as Fester in ‘The Addams Family’ and he was pleased to see new members join the show this year.
“There were worries coming back as we didn’t know if some members would be able to commit this time around. However, the fact that we were able to recruit new members and get up and running with rehearsals was a relief and it is great to be back again.
“There are some new people playing lead roles and there are a lot of new people in the chorus. It is a very different group this time around compared to 2020, and we have members from Tuam and Castlebar, so there is quite a mix.
“It is strange but I did actually feel a bit slower, however, as the weeks went by I began to find the flow and rhythm again and things began to improve.
“It can be a ridiculous situation, when you rehearse in the evening with no audience and then suddenly you are performing in front of hundreds of people and are getting applauded for it.
"It is a massive rush when it goes well. The days leading up to the show can be quite tense. We have learned everything and rehearsed everything, so as the days go by we are enjoying it a lot more.
"Once you get the first night out of the way, then everything falls into place and there is almost a sense of relief."
Patrons can expect a funny and very witty show, according to Niall.
“There is a lot of choreographed dancing and it is a very witty show and there are also a lot of great one-liners and witty comments. The overall context of the show is sort of a reversal of ‘My Fair Lady’ where this time it is a man that is being brought into high society.”
A NEW RECRUIT
Dunmore native Kate McDonnell is one of the new recruits in Ballinrobe Musical Society and the talented actress is eagerly looking forward to the show.
“The reception has been great and it is my first time joining Ballinrobe Musical Society. I have really enjoyed the last few weeks with rehearsals and it has been an enjoyable experience.
“I was involved in Dunmore Musical Society at the age of 11 and have done a lot of shows there over the years. It is nice to become involved in a new group in Ballinrobe and, as I said, the members have been very welcoming.”
McDonnell’s character in the show is very funny and witty.
“The character that I am playing is ‘Lady Jacqueline Carston’ and she is a very funny and witty character, and she doesn’t like things to go smoothly for other people and she will throw a few spanners in the works.
“We are all looking forward to getting back playing in front of audiences once again and I’d say the people of Ballinrobe are also looking forward to this show as there has been a great tradition of musicals in the town."
SCOOPED THE GONG
Partry native John Byrne plays the role of ‘Bill Snibson’ and in 2017 he scooped the gong for ‘Best Comedian’ at the annual AIMS awards for his brilliant portrayal of Bill Snibson in the Claremorris Musical Society.
Byrne also plays soccer with Partry Athletic and he can see the team spirit that is in Ballinrobe Musical Society.
“Everything has been going smoothly and there is great fun and anticipation with this show. This time of year sees everyone enjoying themselves at rehearsals and it is also a great social outlet.
“The production is a comedy and this show has something for all ages.
“Bill is a cheeky cockney and is always up for a laugh and a gag; however, he is also charming and kind-hearted.”
STUDIED MUSICAL THEATRE
Kerry native Helena Brosnan plays the role of ‘Sally Smith’. Helena is a primary school teacher living in Castlegar. She was also involved in the Tralee Musical Society a number of years ago.
“I was involved in Tralee Musical Society a number of years ago and this is actually my first musical in a few years and is also my first time performing for Ballinrobe Musical Society.
“I have done three shows with the Tralee Musical Society back around the time of my Leaving Certificate and then I went to London and studied musical theatre in Buckinghamshire University of London.
"I was then lucky enough to tour with some Irish dance shows. I then did a bit of travelling around the world and finally came back to Ireland to do a teaching degree and I’m now a primary school teacher. I am now back involved in the musicals once again and am enjoying it," she said.
Helena said that it was easy to get into the flow of musicals once again, and believes that there is a great community effort in Ballinrobe into the staging of this show.
“It was easy to get back into it again and the people involved in Ballinrobe Musical Society were very welcoming and there is a great spirit and work ethic in the group.
“We would love to see full houses across the seven nights as a lot of work has been put into the production. It is great for the community as well and it is the first time since Covid-19 that the musical is back in the community school.
“This is a whole community effort and hopefully the audiences will enjoy the show."
‘Me and My Girl’ will take place in Ballinrobe Community School from Sunday, February 12, to Saturday, February 18.
The opening matinee show on Sunday (February 12) will take place at 4 p.m., with the Monday to Saturday shows beginning at 8 p.m.