‘CANDIDE’ AT OPERA HOUSE THIS WEEKEND

It’s not often that a person can change from being an accountant to a Great Russian Bear or from a Marketing Manager to a sleazy governor of Buenos Aires but that is exactly what is happening next week in Cork.

Yes Cork Operatic Society’s version of Leonard Bernstein’s hit Operetta ‘Candide’ hits the stage this Thursday, Friday and Saturday with a cast made up of people from all walks of life who are giving up their spare time to provide much needed entertainment despite the current doom and gloom around the country.

When the Arts Council of Ireland decided not to fund Opera 2005 in Cork this year the future of Opera in the city looked very bleak.

However the resilient chorus of Opera 2005 decided not to let bureaucracy ruin their chances to perform, instead they came fighting back and started up Cork Operatic Society with the view to keeping opera and musicals alive on the banks of the Lee.

‘Candide’, which will be performed in English, is an exuberant satire based on Voltaire’s famous short story. It fuses Leonard Bernstein’s effervescent music with Monty Pythonesque humour as it tells the story of four young and happy people and their teacher, Dr Pangloss, who has instilled in them the belief that “all is for the best, in the best of all possible worlds”.

His maxim is repeatedly put to the test in a series of bizarre and hilarious occurrences. The characters hop from country to country meeting appalling fate after appalling fate but somehow always come out the other side.

The show will be both directed and conducted by John O’Brien, a staggering task for anyone but John is looking forward to it.

“It is so exciting to be working with such a talented and enthusiastic cast, orchestra and crew. The show promises to be something very special - both beautiful and funny”.

One of the cast members, Stephen Ryan, is no stranger to entertainment from his role as marketing manager with Fota Wildlife Park. However, this time around, Stephen takes on the role of the sleazy governor of Buenos Aires. Stephen hopes the people of Cork will come out and support the venture.

“I am really looking forward to this show, the music is great and there is plenty of humour throughout. I am one of a number of the cast members who is really juggling with time at the moment between work and rehearsals on top of home life. However I feel that the people of Cork will appreciate the hard work going into this and that they will come out and support us to keep the society alive.”

Stephen was disappointed about one thing.

“It’s a pity that they don’t allow animals into the opera house, as I think the Capybara at Fota who originate in Argentina would love to see me as the Governor of Buenos Aires!”

Tickets for ‘Candide’ are still available from the box office at the Cork Opera House on 021-4270022 or from www.corkoperahouse.ie

JIMMY MCCARTHY FOR KILWORTH

Jimmy McCarthy is widely recognised as one of the greatest Irish songwriters of the past thirty years and the connections at The Village Arts Centre, Kilworth are delighted to host a concert with him on Thursday night, July 30 at 8.15pm.

The popular Cork singer and songwriter specialises in folk flavoured melodies with powerful and emotive lyrics. Among his best known songs are ‘Ride On’ which was covered successfully by Christy Moore and ‘No Frontiers’ and ‘Katie’ which were both massively successful when recorded by Mary Black.

Other Jimmy McCarthy songs like ‘Ancient Rain’, ‘The Contender’, ‘Neidin’, ‘Bright Blue Rose’ and ‘Adam At The Window’ are also well known to most Irish people. There is hardly a folk singer anywhere in Ireland that hasn’t a Jimmy Walsh song in their repertoire.

Jimmy takes to the Kilworth stage just 10 days after Eric Bogle whose concert was sold out within a week. Bogle wrote songs such as ‘Waltzing Matilda’, ‘Green Fields of France’, Leaving Nancy’ etc.

Jimmy McCarthy tickets (€25) from The Avondhu office, Fermoy (025-32227), Hyland’s Bookshop, Mitchelstown (24528), Cotter’s Kilworth (27109) or from 087-6492514.

NCCM presents Elizabeth Cooney and Redmond O’Toole North Cork Classical Music presents Elizabeth Cooney (violin) and Redmond O’Toole (guitar) at The Village Arts Centre, Kilworth on Saturday night, July 25 at 8.15pm.

Elizabeth and Redmond formed their unique duo of violin and 8-string guitar in 2007 and now perform regularly in festivals and concert seasons with programmes ranging from Bach to Rodrigo. Tickets €15 from 025-32227 or 087-6492514.

DRUID IN ‘THE GIGLI CONCERT’ AT THE EVERYMAN PALACE

Druid presents ‘The Gigli Concert’ by Tom Murphy at Cork’s Everyman Palace Theatre from Tuesday, July 28 to Saturday, August 1 at 8pm nightly.

Directed by Garry Hynes, Tom Murphy’s 1983 masterpiece, The Gigli Concert charts seven days in the bizarre relationship between JPW King, a quack self-help therapist and a mysterious construction millionaire who asks King to teach him how to sing like the Italian opera singer, Beniamino Gigli.

A magnificent starburst of language, ideas and stage trickery, ‘The Gigli Concert’ grapples with huge themes of mental illness, healing and, as ever with Murphy, the redemptive power of creativity in human relationships ‘The Gigli Concert’ comes to the Everyman Palace Theatre direct from its sold-out dates at the Galway Arts Festival.

Widely regarded as Tom Murphy’s greatest work, the staging of this production revives the relationship between Tom Murphy and Druid who have previously worked together on ‘Conversations on a Homecoming’ and ‘Bailegangaire’. Tickets €25 / €20 conc. / €15 opening night / €7 students Tues – Wed. Booking on 021-4501673 or online at www.everymanpalace.com

DRAIOCHT NA FAILLE DEIGE

The sell-out fast moving energetic traditional music, song and dance show commences in St. Paul’s Community Centre, Clogheen on Tuesday 4th August, doors opens at 8.15pm and the show commences at 9.00pm.

Do not miss the opportunity to attend this much talked about show.

Last year there were many disappointed people because they could not get their hands on the much sought after tickets, so don’t leave it too late and book your tickets now by telephoning 086-2245323.