'Oliver!" impresses Ashbourne audiences

The students of Ashbourne Community School put on an outstanding performance last week with their three night run of 'Oliver!", the musical adaptation of Charles Dickens"s 'Oliver Twist". The production was one of the highlights of the year in the school and the professionalism of the production, quality of the acting and the massive co-operative effort of staff and students impressed audiences. Playing to packed crowds on each night at the hall in Gaelscoil Na Cille, the cast and crew, which comprised up to 80 students ranging from first years to fifth years, put on an outstanding performance. The production was directed by Geri Lalor and Cormac O"Brien and produced by Sharon Scannell and Geri Lalor. Central to the success of the production was the musical direction provided by Eoghan O"Donnell and Sharon Scannell, who combined their direction with accompaniment on piano and flute. Choreography for this year"s production was overseen by Caroline Matthews, ably assisted by transition year student Eileen O"Sullivan. 'Oliver!" was a team effort from start to finish. Responsibility for acting, casting, direction, stage management, set design, choreography, props, publicity, make-up and costumes was all shared between staff and students. Rehearsals began in the first week of September, and everything about the show spoke volumes of the work and dedication that had gone into the production by the directors, producers, choreographers and stage crew. First year student Riain O"Keeffe gave a stunning performance in the title role of Oliver. The female lead of Nancy was played by Rachel Doogan who gave a terrific singing performance with renditions of timeless show tunes such as 'I"d Do Anything", 'Oom-Pah-Pah", 'As Long As He Needs Me" and 'It"s A Fine Life". Paraic O"Dowd, a guidance counsellor at the school, played the part of the workhouse warden Mr Bumble, whose sidekick the Widow Corney was played by Christina Prendergast. Both brought chuckles of laughter to the audience who enjoyed the interaction between the two characters. Cian Whelan excelled in the chief comic character, Fagin. He formed a memorable comic duo with the impressive Roisin Gryson, who played the part of the Artful Dodger, Fagin"s criminal apprentice and master pickpocket. The parts of Mr and Mrs Sowerberry, the couple who take in Oliver and use him in their funeral business, were played by Cristin Kelly and 'Fair City" star, Simon O"Driscoll, respectively. Others who put in excellent performances were James Gamble as Bill Sykes, Niall Clarke as Mr Brownlow, Maire O"Shaughnessy as Charlotte, Alan Mulready as Noah Claypole and Rose McGahan as Bet.