It's show time again in Ballinrobe as 'Phantom of the Opera' takes to the stage

by Patrick Hennelly

HISTORY will be made in Ballinrobe during the week of Sunday, February 11, to Saturday, February 17, as the local award winning Ballinrobe Musical Society hold their 2024 production of the iconic show The Phantom of the Opera.

After a three-year break due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the society bounced back into action last year with their production of Me and My Girl, proving to be a resounding success.

This year’s production is more of a darker show, however, there are still some good light-hearted moments in the production and the audience will be captivated by the excellent performances of the chorus line, principle characters and breath-taking special effects.

Carrick-on-Suir Musical Society staged the Irish amateur premiere of The Phantom of the Opera in 2023.

Since then, the show has been staged by Tralee Light Opera Society and Portrush Music Society, making Ballinrobe Musical Society only the fourth amateur musical society on the island of Ireland to produce The Phantom of the Opera.

I spoke to a number of the people involved in the big production.

Eve Garavan (Christine Daaé)

Eve Garavan plays the role of the talented young soprano singer Christine Daaé, and will be singing some of the best-loved songs in musical history, including ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ – with its famous high note, ‘Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again’ and ‘All I Ask of You’.

Having played the part of Mabel in Ballinrobe’s production of The Pirates of Penzance in 2020, Eve is over the moon to take part in the world famous The Phantom of the Opera.

“I have loved this musical since I was 16 and when I heard that Ballinrobe Musical Society was going to do their production of this show I was thrilled. There is so much fun working with the Ballinrobe society and it is great to be able to rehearse and plan a show like this during the winter months. The Phantom of the Opera is such a compelling story and has some amazing music.

“This is my second show with Ballinrobe, as four years ago I was in The Pirates of Penzance, and I couldn’t wait to come back again and get involved this year. I still feel fairly new to the set-up, and it is great to see some more new faces taking part for this year’s production.

"This is Edward Scott’s (who plays the character Vicomte Raoul de Chagny) first show with Ballinrobe and he brings plenty of energy and enthusiasm to the team as well."

Eve explained her character and the complexities about Christine.

“Christine is a ballet dancer in the opera house and she has been taking lessons from somebody that we don’t really know who it is in the beginning, but it is certainly a mysterious person.

"I think she wants to understand who this person is and she is intrigued by this person. Eventually she meets this person who in fact is the phantom and everything really takes off from there. Christine has a lot of big numbers to sing and high notes, and you really see her character develop throughout the show.

"She develops from being an innocent ballet dancer and chorus girl to eventually being the diva on the stage. There are a lot of complexities in the relationship between Christine and the Phantom. This is by far the most complicated character that I have ever played.

“This is a dream role for me and I really hope to just go out there and enjoy the show. I hope that I can do Christine’s nuances and complexes justice in my portrayal of her character."

Niall Conway (The Phantom)

Niall Conway has played a lead role in every Ballinrobe Musical Society show since 2005. In recent years he has played a comedy role, however he is looking forward to playing the Phantom and the darker role that it entails as well as the vocal challenge.

“It is the first time in many years that I am playing a role that is not funny. Over the years I had fallen into a niche of playing the comedy role, so I am looking forward to the challenge of playing the phantom. Obviously, vocally it is a big show, and it is also a darker role for me.

"The Phantom of the Opera is one of the big shows, and this is up there with some of the greatest shows of all-time.

“I had always assumed that I would never get the opportunity to do this show, unless I was a professional, as they seem to be the only people who get to do this production. To do this show while it is available and in Ballinrobe is certainly another one ticked off the ‘bucket list’ and it is a great opportunity for us to stage this show as it never seems to be available.

“It’s more challenging to sing than a standard musical and I suppose that is a challenge that we as a group are all facing together. It is written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and even though it is still a musical, it is stylistically based on a type of opera, which is a nice change and a nice challenge."

Kenneth McCarthy (Stage manager)

Clare native Kenneth McCarthy is the current stage manager and Ballinrobe Musical Society chairman and he is eagerly looking forward to the town hosting this iconic show.

“Once Des (Treacy) and I realised that the rights to The Phantom of the Opera were available we decided to go for this production. It is a massive show and is a huge challenge for this society, with a lot of work involved for the stage crew.

"There is massive work going on behind the background to get this right and to have it as professional - albeit as an amateur society - as we can. It a big challenge that we face but it is one that we are meeting head on.”

Community spirit and team work have been vital cogs in this mammoth production, as McCarthy explained.

“We put in the set last weekend in the school and there were roughly 30 people involved and it took two days to get it set up. It was heartening to see so many people wanting to get on board and help out in any way that they could and there is a great community spirit.

“The audience can really look forward to some breath-taking special effects, and we have a massive stage with action taking place in every part of it.

"We are the only society in the west of Ireland to be awarded the rights to perform this show.

“The day we held the auditions we had 40 people turn up and there are also plenty of new people in the chorus as well. We have people interested in joining our society from various parts of Mayo, and Galway, and that is great to see."

Show tickets will be like gold dust for what promises to be a memorable and historic week in Ballinrobe.

“We have been inundated with people asking when will the tickets be going on sale and the demand has been unreal.

“My hope is that we put on a production that the audience love and that they are talking about this show for a long time afterwards."

Emma Loscher (Cast member and Ballinrobe Musical Society Secretary)

As well as being a talented cast member and part of the excellent chorus line, Emma Loscher is also Ballinrobe Musical Society secretary. Having joined the society in 2022, Emma is looking forward to this year’s production.

“Rehearsals have been going great and we have been rehearsing since the start of October. We started off with a couple of rehearsals per week, but now it’s four to five nights rehearsals per week and it is full throttle now ahead of the opening night.

“I always wanted to be part of the musical society and after the Covid-19 pandemic I decided to join ahead of last year’s production. The society is like a real close-knit family and there is a great camaraderie in the group.

“This year I am also the secretary and I have great help and guidance from my fellow committee members.

“My role in the musical is in the chorus line and as a ballet dancer, and our dance choreographer is just amazing."

Emma hopes that the audience enjoys the show and gave special mention to the community of Ballinrobe.

“I just hope that the audience really enjoys the show and are amazed by the set-up of the stage and the special effects.

“Our sponsors have once again been there to support us, and the community have really come together, which is great to see. The show wouldn’t be possible without the support of the community."

Des Treacy (The Auctioneer)

Having made his debut with the Ballinrobe Musical Society’s production of Oklahoma back in 1999, Des Treacy plays an important role as the auctioneer in The Phantom of the Opera.

The former chairman and current committee member is proud to see the show being staged in Ballinrobe and had special praise for Sr. Francis who reformed the society over 50 years ago.

“It is fantastic to be able to hold this iconic show in Ballinrobe. Sr. Francis reformed this society over 50 years ago (1973) and it is amazing to think that in 2024 we are preparing to produce and stage one of the biggest shows of all-time.

“The music is really good, which helps the chorus, we have some great principle characters and the special effects are brilliant, which we all love to see.

"Over the years our set crew love doing amazing special effects and I delighted to be involved in this production.

“The songs are iconic, with ‘Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again’ being one of the most amazing songs ever sung in a musical. There are also still bits of humour and light-hearted moments in it."

Des plays a crucial role in the opening scene, and he believes that the staging of this show will be a massive boost for the town.

“I am playing the role of the auctioneer and I am chuffed to be playing this role. The character plays a very important role in the opening scene of the show.

"I think it is going to be a stunning and memorable week for Ballinrobe and that it will be a massive boost for the town.”

The show takes place in Ballinrobe Community School from Sunday, February 11, to Saturday, February 17. Sunday’s show will take place at 5 p.m., with Monday to Saturday’s shows running nightly at 8 p.m.