Lola brings tropical theme to Navan
St Mary's Musical Society in Navan has announced details of its 2010 production, 'Copablanca' which will be directed by award-winning Navan native director, Donal Cantwell. Cantwell, who won the National AIMS award for Best Director in 2006 with his production of the musical 'Assassins' has been working hard on the production with a cast of over forty since October. Most people know Barry Manilow's famous song Copacabana and will agree its one of those tunes that really sticks in your head. In the early 90s Manilow decided to write a musical based on the lyrics of the song in the style of the technicolor musicals of the 1940s. Copacabana opened on London's West End in 1994 and ran for over two years with many theatregoers reporting the shows 'feel good factor' and 'catchy songs' as their main sources of enjoyment. It was the first of the new wave of musicals created by pop song writers based around their own music and was followed by successful shows including Abba's 'Mama Mia' and Queen's 'We Will Rock You'. Cantwell is joined on the production team by Ivan McKenna as musical director and Sonya Dunne as choreographer. McKenna is returning to St Mary's after the success of last year's musical 'Jane Eyre' for which he won the national AIMS award for Best Musical Director. He has arranged an orchestra of eleven professional musicians who will add to the magic of this production. This is Dunne's first production with St Mary's but everybody agrees her imaginative energetic dance routines are going to give audiences something to remember. The musical tells the story of Lola who arrives in New York 'with a suitcase in her hand and a dream in her heart' at a time when "…music and passion were always in fashion!...". Tony is a bartender/composer who falls in love with Lola and helps her become a 'Copa Girl' in the famous 'Copacabana' nightclub. While performing, Lola attracts the amorous attentions of gangster Rico "…who wears a diamond…". Rico abducts Lola and takes her to his rival nightclub, The Tropicana in Havana. Tony, with the help of his Copacabana friends, must now rescue Lola before….. well, even if you know the song, there are still a few surprises! The cast is full of local talent including choreographer/director Adam Lynch in the leading role as Tony Starr, Ronan Walsh who played Robin Hood in 'Babes in the Wood' as Italian gangster Rico Castelli, Eve Wardick, choreographer of the very successful Michael Jackson tribute, 'His Story' as Latin Diva Conchita Alvarez and introducing new society member Claire Duffy as Lola. The society are thrilled to welcome back St Paul's primary school teacher and hilarious comedienne Rosi Meegan as the wise talking cigarette girl Gladys Murphy and Jonathan Penny as her capable comedy partner Sam Silver. Copacabana will run from Friday 19th - Sat 20th March and then from Wed 24th - Sat 27th March with ticket prices ranging from €15 -18. Many people are booking tickets in advance as St Mary's are running the show over six performances instead of the usual eight. The Solstice box office number is (046) 909 2300 open daily from 11am - 4pm.