Gallen CS musical a resounding success

The Gallen CS annual musical 'Joseph' was staged in the school from Tuesday to Friday of last week and wowed the audience on each of the four nights. All aspects of the production from acting, singing, dancing, stage presence, set, costumes and props were of the highest order and all concerned deserve the utmost commendation. Producer Mr Micheal McCartain, musical director Ms Deborah Reynolds and choreographer Ms Derval Kirwan and all the cast deserve credit for their tireless work three/four evenings a week after school since last October and their dedication paid off with performances to be proud of. Thanks to Mrs Evelyn Breen, costume design, Ms Josephine McKeogh and art students, set design and painting, Mr McCartain, Mr Doyle and TY Students, set design and building, Cluny Staff, props, Ms O'Connor and Ms Claffey and TY students, stage management, commendable mention must be given to the musicians, who included Gallen students Chloe Flynn and Claire Ann Kearns on piano and to budding fashionista of the future Shannon Harte Lally for creating Joseph's dreamcoat. Thanks to all who helped in any other way to make the show so successful, ie; make up, lighting, sound, supervisors, ushers, raffle, front of house, programme Mrs Scully and TY students Lisa Kenny and Ciara McAlearney, and thanks to all who took out ads and sponsored prizes. Joe Maher played Joseph to perfection. His vocal range and the timbre and varying tones of his voice conveyed the wide range of emotions to the audience, from sadness at being sold into slavery to despair at being cast into jail, redemption by being appointed Pharaoh's second in command to joy as he is reunited with Jacob and his eleven brothers. Niamh Delaney and Ciara Coughlan were excellent as the narrators, showing great versatility and professionalism in singing a variety of numbers whilst all the time keeping the action going on stage. Gary Egan as Pharaoh brought a Presleyesque presence to the stage and Gary played the part of Pharaoh excellently, conveying to the audience both the ruthlessness of Pharaoh the leader and the humanity of Pharaoh the man as he rescues Joseph. Michael Kenny specialises in playing authority figures; last year's Yertle the Judge gave way in 2011 to the figure of Potiphar whose booming voice jails Joseph. Niamh Duffy as Mrs Potiphar played the role to perfection. Jamie Darcy brought great stage presence to the part of Jacob and credit to Shauna Harte Lally and Revina Devery, two future stars who will soon play lead roles in Gallen CS productions for their excellent solo numbers. Due credit goes to all eleven brothers whose varying roles and personalities kept the action and plot flowing; Padraic Rourke, Patrick Treacy, Michael Corbett, Dylan McEvoy, Donal Ryan, Jarlath Stevenson, Kyle Higgins, Danny Flaherty, Charlie Healy, Brian Gilligan and Eoghan Lowry. Jacob's wives were Amy Dunne, Shannon Harte Lally, Ciara McAlearney, Sharon Mannion, Valene Greer, Emma Flynn, Rachel Seery, Celine Camon, Revina Devery, Shauna Harte Lally and Lauren Egan with the chorus being Aoife Corbett, Ellie McEvoy, Chloe Cahill, Zoe Rooney, Niamh Hynes, Carrie Egan, Chloe Mullen, Erin Maher, Sheree Tierney, Sharon Costello and Nikita Dunican with Brian Grehan, Ciaran Cahill, James Nally and Ruairi Doolan being the upholders of law and authority in Egypt in their role of guards.