Ennis is alive with The Sound of Music

WITH the countdown on in earnest until opening night, Ennis Musical Society is busy preparing for its 2012 production of the Rogers and Hammerstein classic, The Sound of Music.
Now in its 59th year of entertaining audiences, the society will host six performances from Tuesday, March 6 to Saturday, March 10.
Neil Haran, PRO Ennis Musical Society noted, “The Sound of Music is not just a musical; it’s an institution. If, like me, you grew up in the 1970s, your Christmas TV viewing inevitably included a healthy offering of Oliver, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and, of course, The Sound of Music. The Sound of Music was always just there.”
Among the cast, 10 talented young people from Ennis and surrounding areas will grace the stage, playing the parts of the various Von Trapp children.
“Over 90 children – boys and girls alike – auditioned for the parts back in October, from which this group of 10 children was selected,” explains Kaye Gaynor, chairperson of the Ennis Musical Society. “There were some tough calls but we have ended up with a very special children’s cast.”
Asked how 10 local children would play the roles of seven Von Trapps, Ms Gaynor explained four teenagers – Madeleine Arkins, Conor Coughlan, Elaine Brennan and Nathan Bluett – would play the parts of the older Von Trapp children in all six performances.
The parts of the three younger children will be shared between Katie Gleeson and Emma Purcell (Brigitta), Emma Haran and Sinéad Coughlan (Marta) and Rhona Kearney and Ailbhe Haran (Gretl), each taking three performances.
Most of the children in question are no strangers to the stage. Conor Coughlan, selected to play Friedrich, has qualified along with his sister for the semi-finals of this year’s Clare’s Got Talent competition. Nathan Bluett, who plays the part of Kurt, played the title role in Ennis Musical Society’s outstanding 2011 production of Oliver! He was joined in that production by fellow cast members Elaine Brennan, Emma Haran and Emma Purcell.
Madeleine Arkins, who features as Liesl, the oldest of the Von Trapp children, has also had a very theatrical last few months, having played the lead in Coláiste Muire’s pre-Christmas production of Beauty and the Beast.
Only eight-year old Rhona Kearney, a pupil of Ennis National School, will be making her musical debut in The Sound of Music. However, for someone new to the stage, Rhona shows no signs of being fazed by the experience. “I was really happy to have been picked for the show,” she said. “The whole thing is wonderful.”
Many were surprised at having been selected from such a large group of aspiring performers. “I didn’t believe my dad when he told me,” explains seven-year old Ailbhe Haran, the youngest cast member.
While most commented on the demands of a heavy rehearsal schedule, all stressed the fun being had, the new friendships made and the massive amounts of homemade chocolate cakes, buns and brownies being consumed during breaks in rehearsal.
“We’ve made friends for life,” commented Sinéad Coughlan and Elaine Brennan, both pupils of Rice College in Ennis.
This production of The Sound of Music is a real family affair. Sisters Emma and Ailbhe Haran will be joined on stage by their dad, while Nathan Bluett will have both his mum and brother for company during the performances. Katie Gleeson will also perform alongside her mum, Edel, who plays the part of Elsa Schraeder, Captain Von Trapp’s initial love interest.
Adult members of Ennis Musical Society are really enthused by the talent of this group of young people. “Audiences are just going to want to eat them up,” insists Ms Gaynor.
What expectations have the young people themselves of performing in Glór in early March? Emma Purcell and Katie Gleeson both said they will be nervous but they, like the others in the group, are determined not to forget their lines or make mistakes.
Tickets are on sale at the Glór box office and for further details, visit www.glor.ie.