As rehearsals storm ahead for B’Sloe Panto‘s production of Jack and the Beanstalk (Town Hall Theatre, Ballinasloe, Co. Galway – Monday 12th – Sunday 18th December), guest performer and all-round thespian wise guy Bugs Bunny gets to grips with 2011 Ballinasloe Christmas Panto Jack and the Beanstalk, rabbiting on about possible plotlines and demonstrating that a carrot is not just for Christmas, it’s for, eh, …’What’s up Doc?’

Jack – Enda McGrath

Princess Rose – Sarah Cocoron

Dame Trot – Pat Vaughan

Dozy Den – Mike O’Reilly

Buttercup – to be cast

Fairy BeanSprout – to be cast

The King – Mike Kelly

Prime Minister – Declan (Garvey!) Finn

The Giant Blunderbore – Brian Deranne

The Giant’s Housekeepr – Eoin Quinn

Male and female speaking - parts still to be cast.

Rehearsals for reds start on tuesday 11th of october at 7.30 at the Carlton.

Miss three  and you lose your place.

Late 3 times – you lose yourplace.

bad behaviour of any kind you lose your place.

JACK AND THE BEANSTALK / B’SLOE PANTO 2011

BLUE LIST – EDWARD

JACK AND THE BEANSTALK / B’SLOE PANTO 2011

GREEN

NAME

AUDITION

NUMBER

Barrett, Mairead

34

Broderick, Niamh

7

Burdess, Fern

101

Burke, Avril

102

Burke, Kayleigh

8

Burke, Laura

103

Clinton, Colleen

100

Deane, Bronagh

127

Dolphin, Niamh

35

Fahy, Anna

138

Hurley, Sinead

32

Kelly, Deirde

121

Kelly, Jack

126

Kelly, Kim

128

Larsen,  Beth

6

Lawlor, Megan

133

Mannion, Aidan

183

McDevitt, Lisa

33

McGrath, Paula

132

McMorrow, Caoimhe

125

Murray, Grainne

131

Ward, Miriam

139

Rehearsals for Greens start on Wednesday 12th of october at 7.30 at the Carlton.

Miss three  and you lose your place.

Late 3 times – you lose yourplace.

bad behaviour of any kind you lose your place.

Once upon a time there was a beautiful girl called Cinderella and she had two ugly step sisters who were very unkind who made her do all the hard work. She had to sweep the floors, do all the dishes, while they dressed up in fine clothes and went to lots of parties.

One day a special invitation arrived at Cinderella’s house. It was from the royal palace. The king’s only son was a truly handsome prince was going to have a grand ball. Three girls were invited to come. Cinderella knew she wouldn’t be allowed to go to the ball. But the ugly sisters, ho ho ho, they were excited. They couldn’t talk about anything else.

When the day of the ball came, they made such a fuss. Poor Cinderella had to rush about upstairs and downstairs. She fixed their hair in fancy waves and curls. She helped them put on their expensive new dresses. And she arranged their jewels just so. As soon as they had gone, Cinderella sat down by the fire and she said. “Oh I do wish I could go to the ball”. The next moment, standing beside her was a lovely old lady with a silver wand in here hand. “Cinderella, she said ” I am your fairy godmother and you shall go to the ball. But first you must go into the garden and pick a golden pumpkin, then bring me six mice from the mousetraps, a whiskered rat from the rat trap, and six lizards. You’ll find the lizards behind the watering can.

So Cinderella fetched a golden pumpkin, six grey mice, a whiskered rate, six lizards. The fairy godmother touched them with her wand and the pumpkin became a golden coach, the mice became six grey horses, the rat became a coachman with the most enormous moustache, and the lizards became six footmen dressed in green and yellow, then the fairy godmother touched Cinderella with the wand and her old dress became a golden dress sparkling with jewels while on her feet was the prettiest pair of glass slippers ever seen. Remember said the fairy godmother you must leave the ball before the clock strikes twelve because at midnight the magic ends. “Thank you fairy godmother” said Cinderella and she climbed into the coach.

When Cinderella arrived at the ball she looked so beautiful that everyone wondered who she was! Even the ugly sisters. The Prince of course asked here to dance with him and they danced all evening. He would not dance with anyone else. Now Cinderella was enjoying the ball so much that she forgot her fairy godmothers warning until it was almost midnight and the clock began to strike. One. Two. Three. She hurried out of the ballroom. Four. Five. Six. As she ran down the palace steps one of her glass slippers fell off. Seven. Eight. Nine. She ran on toward the golden coach. Ten Eleven Twelve. Then there was Cinderella in her old dress. The golden pumpkin lay in her feet. And scampering down off down the road were six grey mice, a whiskered rat and six green lizards.. So Cinderella had to walk home and by the time the ugly sisters returned home was sitting quietly by the fire.

Now when Cinderella ran from the palace, the prince tried to follow her and he found the glass slipper. He said, “I shall marry the beautiful girl whose foot fits this slipper and only her. IN the morning the prince went from house to house with the glass slipper and every young lady tried to squeeze her foot into it. But it didn’t’ fit any of them.

At last the prince came to Cinderella’s house. First one ugly sister tried to squash her foot into the slipper. But her foot was too wide and fat. Then the other ugly sister tried but her foot was too long and thin. Please said Cinderella, let me try. “The slipper won’t fit you”, said the ugly sisters. “You didn’t go to the ball!” But Cinderella slipped her foot into the glass slipper and it fit perfectly. The next moment standing beside her was the fairy godmother. She touched Cinderella with the wand and there she was in a golden dress sparkling with jewels and on her feet was the prettiest pair of glass slippers ever seen. The ugly sisters were so surprised that, for once they couldn’t think of anything to say. But the Prince knew what to say. He asked Cinderella to marry him.

And then there was a happy wedding. Everyone who had gone to the ball was invited, even the ugly sisters. There was wonderful food, lots of music and dancing. And the Prince of course danced every dance with Cinderella. He would not dance with anyone else.

Commedia dell’Arte generally featured actors improvising their way through a story involving characters such as Harlequin and his true love, Columbine. Other characters that often featured were the overprotective father, Pantaloon and his servant, Pulchinello (who would later be known as ‘Clown’). Although the character of Pulchinello has vanished from the modern pantomime, he still exists as Mr. Punch, the puppet who along with his wife Judy can still be seen in English seaside towns and parks today.

The main problem with the travelling Commedia dell’Arte shows was that the main actors did not speak very good English. This meant that the scenes from their shows had to be mimed as the audience couldn’t understand the language and more singing and dancing was introduced to the shows. Rather than telling jokes, the actors also had to make people laugh with funny actions, chases and mimes. The Harlequin character would carry a wooden sword during these shows with which he would comically ‘slap’ fellow actors, and this is what became called ‘slapstick’ humour.

The first actual ‘pantomime’ was staged in 1717 when the ballet-pantomime The Lovers of Mars and Venus was produced at John Rich’s Lincoln Inn Fields Theatre. These pantomimes became extremely popular during the 18th century and in 1773 the Theatre Royal in DruryLane, London staged the first pantomime story that we would recognise today – Jack The Giant Killer.

Aladdin and his Wonderful Lamp followed in 1788, the characters of Clown, Harlequin and Pantaloon now being firmly established. Pantomime continued to grown in popularity in the 1800s as the original pantomime clown, Joseph Grimaldi, wowed audiences with his performances. His shows included comic songs and slapstick humour and he also introduced another pantomime tradition – the Pantomime Dame.

The Victorian era also saw the increasing importance of animal roles in pantomimes. The animal is played by an actor in ‘animal skin’ or an animal costume. It is often a panto horse or cow, played by two actors in a single costume, one at the front and one at the rear. Famous pantomime animals include Jack’s cow, Aladdin’s camel and Dick Whittington’s cat as well as Priscilla the Goose and Puss in Boots. Whilst most modern pantomimes now boast a TV, music or sports star in a leading role, casting established stars in pantomime roles actually dates back to the 1800s when theatre impresario Augustus Harris would regularly hire big name artists for his Drury Lane pantomimes.

Traditionally performed at Christmas and New Year, with audiences consisting mainly of children and parents, Irish pantomime is now a popular form of theatre incorporating song, dance, buffoonery, slapstick, cross-dressing, in-jokes, audience participation and mild innuendo.

There are a number of panto story-lines and scripts – Aladdin is the first of many to be brought to you by the Ballinasloe Panto Society! – and a fairly well-defined set of performance conventions, including well-known tunes with re-written lyrics; the audience is encouraged to sing along and often challenged to sing their chorus louder than the other half! Additional audience participation includes calls of Look behind you!, with encouragement to boo! the villain and awww! the victim!

Pantomime remains successful to this day as it has managed to constantly evolve, telling traditional tales but unafraid to change with the times, and remains the perfect Christmas entertainment for children and adults alike. Oh no it isn’t! Oh yes it is!

Niamh Kelly – Cinderella
A native of Ballinasloe, Niamh is following in the footsteps of both her father and her grandfather by taking to the stage. Niamh is a 6th year student in Ard Scoil Mhuire, and has been a member of both the ‘In Step Stage School’ and ‘Centre Stage Stage School’. In 2008 she was awarded a scholarship to attend the A.I.M.S theatre summer school in Thurles and has on several occasions attended the Stagewise summer school in Dublin. She played the part of ‘The Cat in the Hat’ in the TY production of ‘Seussical the Musical’ and ‘Minnie Faye’ in Ballinasloe Musical Society’s production of ‘Hello, Dolly!’ in 2009. This is Niamh’s second performance onstage with Ballinasloe Panto Society having last year played Princess Jasmine in ‘Aladdin’. She is delighted to be playing Cinderella this year and would like to wish all the cast and crew the best of luck for this weeks show.

Niamh Burke – Voluptua

EVIL !!!

Niamh is a second year Science Education student in NUI Maynooth.She no stranger to the stage, being a member of Ballinasloe Musical Society
and Maynooth Community players and has starred in such shows as ‘Honk!’ and ‘Fame’ with them. Niamh attended the Performing Arts School in Galway and
starred with them in many shows including ‘Guys and Dolls’, ‘Oliver’ and ‘The Wiz’ where she played Aunt Em. Niamh is also a member of the
Jacinta Keane school of dance and is an experienced dancer. Niamh is looking forward to playing the ‘baddie’ for the first time and is excited
about taking part in this years pantomime…good luck everyone! Dont forget to boo and hiss everytime you see her !! Booooooooo

Mike Kelly – Gorgon (Ugly stepsister)
Mike is a native of Ballinasloe and has been involved in productions with Garbally College, Relay’s Drama Group, Ballinasloe Musical Society and Acorn Theatre Group. Mike’s first love has always been the stage, possibly handed down from his parents. “I have been lucky down through the years to work under many excellent directors, including Bishop Cassidy, Eamonn O’Donoghue, Liam Curley, Noel Henry, Fr. Declan Kelly and Barry Lally, and I have really enjoyed working for the second time under the direction Of Eoin Croffey”. With Relay’s, Mike has taken part in ‘The Hostage’, ‘Philadelphia Here I Come’, ‘I Do Not Like Thee Dr. Fell’, ‘One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest’, and played the part of the Bull McCabe in ‘The Field’. Mike claims his favourite role with Relay’s was as Mike Glavin in ‘Sive’. With Ballinasloe Musical Society, Mike played Alfred Doolittle in ‘My Fair Lady’ and Bill Sykes in ‘Oliver!’ (where he scared all the kids!). Mike played the role of the likeable and bumbling Emperor in last year’s panto ‘Aladdin’. He would like to wish all the cast and crew, especially all the younger cast, the best of luck for the duration of this production of ‘Cinderella’. Mike hopes that everyone forgets the recession for the night and has a good laugh! This Year he takes on the part of an ugly sister ( Make up has such a job to do). He has been seen practicing his “high heal” manovers around some of the local establishments of Balllinasloe in the past few weeks – we’re not sure should you boo or laugh when you see him – maybe do both ….. 

Pat Vaughan – Zola (Ugly Sister)
Pat is a former member of Ballinasloe Musical Society where he played several roles including Nicely Johnson in Guys and Dolls, Captain Brackett in South Pacific, Ramon in Viva Mexico, and Buffalo Bill in Annie Get Your Gun. He was also a member of the very successful St Brigid’s Dramatic Society and played several roles in both One Act and Three Act Productions, for a number of years. His favourite roles were Simey in John B Keane’s The Highest House on the Mountain and Joxer Daly in O Casey’s Juno and The Paycock.
His love of music and drama came from his late father Billy, who performed on stage in the Town Hall in several productions for both Relays Drama Group and Ballinasloe Musical Society.

Pat played the Genie in last years show and is delighted to be back again this year to work with such a talented director as Eoin Croffy and with so many talented young people. Pat this year has the part of the beautiful sister of the ever charming and
gorgeous Mike Kelly. Thanks to all in make up and costume you did a super job,
and the  magic knickers really work!!!!

Brian Derrane – King Fairy
This is Brian’s first time in a panto….. “Oh No It Isn’t…. Oh yes it is!”…… and it is a cause for celebration! He hopes all members of cast “breaks a leg!”
Brian’s first foray onto the stage was as a junior chorus girl in Garbally Colleges “Fiddler on the Roof”. Other musical appearances include; Andrew Cairns – “Oklahoma”; Big Chief Sitting Bull – “Annie Get Your Gun”, (featured on RTE’s Bibi Show); Big Julie – “Guys and Dolls”; Mr. Bumble -“Oliver”; men’s chorus – “My Fair Lady”; The tap dancing Mikado in the “Hot Mikado”; Spats Palazzo – “Some like it Hot”; Rudolph Reisenweber – ”Hello Dolly”; and Mr. Bigsby in “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.”
Brian is also a member of the Ballinasloe Relays Drama Group playing roles in; “Judgment in Carlingford” an RTE radio play; “I Do Not Like Thee Dr. Fell”, “Deeply Regretted”, “Philadelphia Here I Come”, “A Bolt From The Blue”, and as the sermonising Bishop in “The Field”. He also helped celebrate Portiuncula Hospitals 100th anniversary playing Canon Purcell in “Centenary”.

Eveanna Ryan – Fairy Godmother
Athough Eveanna has been involved in Drama in Ballinasloe much longer than she will admit!!! This is her 1st time to be on stage with the Ballinasloe Panto. Last year she was confined to a darkened room back stage applying blue primer onto the lovely Genie and St Tropez to Alladin!!! (and she loved every minute of it!!) Yes she was the local girl who became a film star acting alongside Colm Meaney in the war of the buttons ( we wont tell you what year ) This year she is playing the part of the wonderful Fairy Godmother but she is having a bit of difficulty getting her wand to work ……

Daniel Barrett – Dandini
The youngest member of the main cast at 17, Daniel is a first time participant in Ballinasloe Panto, but has taken part in two school musicals and two Centre Stage productions. His short ‘career’ in acting has taken a turn for the worse, as he has gone from the dizzying heights playing one of the main male parts in the musical Annie, to one of the main female parts in last year’s Centre Stage production of Babes in The Wood. He continues his stunning run of form here as Dandini. Daniel wishes to greatly thank everyone who played a part in the production of this panto, and hopes you all enjoy the show!!!

Mike O’Reilly – Barron Hard-Up
Mike is one of the best-known faces on stage in Ballinasloe; he continues to maintain an amazing enthusiasm for drama. He has been involved in a huge number of Relays productions, most recently The Field. Over the last fifteen years, he has also been actively involved with Ballinasloe Musical Society. The Wiz and Honk are just some of his more recent achievements with that award winning Society. He has also worked with the Acorn Theatre group, most recently with The Kings of the Kilburn High Road. He worked backstage at last year’s Panto and the stage manager insisted that he return to the acting end of things as soon as possible! Strange – this years director has already insisted he return to backstage ….

Fergal D’Arcy – Buttons

 Born and raised in Ballinasloe. He has been involved in
drama from an early age with The Creagh Capers and numerous workshops. To date fergal has worked with numerous drama groups including Relays and DIT
drama society. In 1998, he won the Garbally Drama award for his role as ‘Gar’
Private in ‘Philadelphia Here I come’, in 2004 he won Best Comic Actor
for
his role as Death in ‘The Death of Love.’ Fergal also has an interest in
radio drama being nominated for the 2010 PPI social awareness and concern
award for self written ‘Split Seconds’

Last year Fergal played the role of Alladin in the pantomime, this year he looks forward to getting on stage, acting the mick and frightening the young lads. Fergal would also like to take this opportunity to let ye all know that he doesn’t wear LADIES CLOTHES OR TIGHTS…thats just a vicous rumour
that Pat vaughan started out of spite last year.

Dave Hardiman

Bronagh Vaughan

Fiona Curley

Aoife Vaughan

Any one intrested in set design, painting etc email info@ballinasloepanto.com

Note : to crew the show you must be available for all performances