A NEW LEADING LADY Angela Curley-Staunton, who plays the part of Evita, is pictured during rehearsals for Ballinrobe Musical Society’s 2013 production last week.?Pic: Trish Forde
Ballinrobe bring Evita back to life
Preview
Mike Finnerty
YET another West End show will make its debut in the West of Ireland when the curtain comes up on Ballinrobe Musical Society’s production of ‘Evita’ at the local Community School auditorium next Saturday night.
The award-winning cast, technical crew and committee have been working for the last six months to bring Andrew Lloyd Webber’s creation to life again, and fans of the multi-talented Society’s work are in for a real treat, according to some of the show’s stellar cast.
“It’s going to be spectacular,” promised Angela Curley-Staunton, a native of Galway who is now living in Kiltimagh, and plays the lead role, Evita.
“We’ve reached Everest over the last number of years, this year we plant the Argentinian flag,” declared Michael Coen, a former AIMS winner, who has been cast as Juan Peron.
“The best compliment I can pay the show is that it’s going to be of Ballinrobe standard,” added Dave Langan, the talented local singer and actor who has returned to his home Society this spring to fill the part of Che.
‘Evita’ begins its seven-night run next Saturday, February 9 and the musical that stole the show in both the West End and Broadway runs until Saturday, February 16.
Ticket are already selling briskly via the Society website (www.ballinrobemusicalsociety.com) and the box office at the Lake District offices on Glebe Street, as loyal followers snap up seats.
The South Mayo Society have appointed a new Director (Liam Butler from Tipperary, a nephew of renowned troubadour Liam Clancy and a six-time AIMS award winner) and a new Musical Director (Finola Higgins-Cosgrove from Kiltimagh, who is also the Musical Director of the Mayo School of Music) for this year’s production.
Niall Conway, Sadbh Langan and Laura Rochford (who is Evita’s understudy) also have principal parts.
Meanwhile, the baton of Chairperson has also been passed on with Pat McGovern stepping aside after a very successful tenure and Des Treacy taking over in the hotseat.
“We were the only Amateur Society to be given the rights to Evita this year so we can’t wait to show audiences what we can do,” Des told The Mayo News last week.
“Evita tells a 20 year story in the space of two hours so it’s very fast-moving, very challenging. People are working hard, slogging away, putting in hours and hours of practice.
“I really think Evita suits our strengths. We have strong leads, a fantastic cast, and an excellent backroom team who can carry off the technical aspect.
“The Society is well-known for its technical expertise; we can build ships, and sink them, and we’ve got staircases you wouldn’t get in Buckingham Palace,” he laughed.
Huge crowds are expected to turn out again this year, but Des Treacy and company are already looking to the 70th anniversary of the Society’s first show in 2014.
“I firmly believe that this year’s production of Evita will set this Society up for a very bright and flourishing future and help to keep this very special Ballinrobe tradition alive for many years to come,” he said.
Box Office
THE show starts next Saturday night, February 9 at 8pm and runs for seven consecutive nights.
You can book tickets at www ballinrobemusicalsociety.com
or at the Lake District office on (094) 95 42244
