Ballinrobe Musical Society present the legendary ‘The Phantom of the Opera’

BALLINROBE Musical Society is back with what is arguably the most famous musical of all time: Andrew Lloyd Webber’s ‘The Phantom of the Opera’. Broadway’s most performed show will be gracing the west of Ireland the first time ever, thanks to the award-winning Mayo society. With hit songs such as ‘The Music of The Night’, ‘All I Ask of You’, ‘Masquerade’, ‘Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again’ and the epic ‘The Phantom of The Opera’, audience members are in for a spectacular performance.

Ahead of the production, The Mayo News spoke to the show's Director, Alan Greaney, and the society's Chairperson, Kenneth McCarthy. Describing the show in three words, Greaney said: “Epic is the first word I would use, I mean there is a reason the show has been playing nearly every night since 1986 in London and holds the record for the most number of performances on Broadway.

“Iconic is another one, everyone knows at least some of the music in Phantom, everyone knows that opening riff, as soon as it plays you know exactly where you are. Of course the styling of the show in terms of the phantom’s mask, the costumes and all that, iconic is probably the word. 

“Finally, immense; it's a huge production from start to finish. It's quite a large orchestra this year, because of the calibre of music in the show. There’s a lot involved in the technical side, being the show that it is. It's magical, it's intriguing, and it’s amazing from start to finish.”

_{Eve Garavan, who plays Christine Daée in Ballinrobe Musical Society's production of The Phantom of The Opera (Pic: Trish Forde)}

Rollercoaster

KENNETH McCarthy, who joined the society 22 years ago playing Fyedca in ‘Fiddler on the Roof’, is now stage manager, as well as Chairperson of the society. He said: “Every year I just love it from start to finish; the comradery between all the people is brilliant.” He called his journey with Ballinrobe Musical Society ‘a rollercoaster’.

“I’ve had the lucky experience of being onstage, and now backstage. There’s a fantastic team of actors and actresses onstage of course, but there’s also a fantastic team backstage. From set designers and set construction, to the backstage team that actually run [the show], I'm lucky enough to have been a part of every team in the society,” said Mr McCarthy.

Mr Greaney added: “The commitment level is fantastic and the interest in this particular show is unreal. We have 60 people onstage this year, which is huge. I’m trying to manage and organise the whole lot, so it comes with its own challenges, but [the society members] are a really, really great bunch.”

The lead roles this year are filled by Niall Conway, a familiar legend to the society, as well as Kate MacDonnell from Dunmore, and classically trained soprano Eve Garavan.

“We have an amazing principal line up in this society, with several Association of Irish Musical Societies (AIMS) award nominees and winners. The audience will recognise a lot of the cast members from over the years,” said Mr McCarthy.

^{_{Niall Conway, who plays The Phantom of The Opera in Ballinrobe Musical Society's production of The Phantom of The Opera (Pic: Trish Forde)}}

Heart-warming

WITH months of work having gone into the show, director Alan Greaney added: “I’ve only been directing for the last couple of years and every show I’ve put on it’s been an amazing feeling to have ideas in your head and then see wonderful people come together and bring that to life, I can't really describe the feeling, it’s heartwarming, it's amazing, and I'm immensely proud of everybody’s work.” Brushing off his own efforts, he added: “It’s up to the guys to put it together, my job is done once opening night comes, it’s up to them to come together and give that performance.

“We had the best part of 20 people in Ballinrobe Community School working over the weekend, all different volunteers within the community, and not a single one of us get a penny for this, it’s all for the love of the society. It’s brilliant how a community can come together to produce this every year.” he added.

With only a couple weeks to go until this year’s musical takes to the stage and audiences get to experience ‘The Music of the Night’, Greaney said audiences are in for ‘a great night of entertainment’.

“This will be real theatrical experience worthy of Broadway or the West End in Ballinrobe again this year,” Mr McCarthy added. 

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‘The Phantom of the Opera’ will run from February 11 to 17 in Ballinrobe Community School. Tickets are available now from the society’s booking office in Tacú, Main Street, Ballinrobe on 094 954 2907; or online.