Clondalkin Drama Group – Over the Yellow Brick Road
By Leopold Herter
The Clondalkin Drama Group is already excited about the seven shows of their upcoming original pantomime ‘Over the Yellow Brick Road’ which runs from Saturday, January 11 to Sunday, January 19 in Moyle Park College.
Since 2016 the drama group has performed original pantomime works.
(from left) Margaret Hesnan (Munchkin 1), Kaya Murphy-Massey (Munchkin 3), Faye Darcy, Keeva Brennan, Ella Donoghue, Faye Gilligan and Kathleen McGrath (Munchkin 2)
This year writer and director Seán O’Reilly gave it a go and wrote his own ‘Wizard of Oz’-inspired panto.
“From a very young age, The Wizard of Oz has been a favourite of mine – having always been transported to the merry ol’ land of Oz each time it would be on TV,” said the writer.
“Writing a pantomime itself is a long and arduous process. Once I had the idea, I began writing early in 2019.
“There have been several rewrites of the script, and probably several more changes to come.”
A full cast of nine people crystallised out of the rehearsals, which started at the beginning of October.
“We’ve got a full cast of nine, ranging from the very well-known Scarecrow to our own concoction of a Dame, Splenda.
“As well as our cast of adults, we can’t forget the stars of the show: our extremely talented kids – who are our devious munchkins and dastardly flying monkeys,” said the director of the actors.
Thanks to the “talented and easygoing” cast, Seán can look back at a production that has been smooth sailing.
Frances Tuffery (Cowardly Lion) and Sean Bridgeman (Tin Man)
Starting with a run of the original production ‘Happily Ever After’, written and directed by two group members, in January the drama group from Clondalkin staged three of their plays this year.
They showed their next play in May, when performing sold-out ‘Sive’ by John B. Keane, and two short plays in the show ‘A Night of Bellyaches and Politics’ in September.
Being happy with the audiences’ support and feedback, Clondalkin Drama Group plans to repeat last year’s production schedule, starting with ‘Over The Yellow Brick Road’.
The panto “is no ordinary story – it may be one that seems rather familiar at first, but as you delve further nothing is as it seems. You may recall the happenings of the Wizard of Oz, but we’re about to turn that on its head,” said Seán.
Despite being delighted about last year, the Clondalkin group is aiming for an even better year.
“There’s always room for improvement and as we are constantly expanding and gaining new members, there is so much opportunity to bring new, amazing things for our audiences to see, love, and laugh at,” said PR Officer Cianna Bramble, to The Echo.
Tickets for the shows of ‘Over the Yellow Brick Road’ at Moyle Park College cost €10 (Adults) and €5 (Children).
They can be purchased at Clondalkin Village Hardware.
To keep up to date with all the happenings of Clondalkin Drama Group feel free to follow them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter or contact them by email at clondalkindramagrp@gmail.com to sign up for their newsletter.
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