Local talent stands out for 'Valley' at Gaiety

The large cast and crew, many from Mullingar, were given a standing ovation as the curtain fell on the sell-out opening night of the Valley of the Squinting Windows at the Gaiety Theatre, Dublin, last Tuesday.

The Gaiety performances, like those staged in Mullingar earlier this month, sold out well in advance and there is now talk of taking the play on a worldwide tour.

After the opening night in the Gaiety, Sean Lynch declared that this was the biggest night in the 25 year existence of Mullingar Arts Centre. He said that according to the Gaiety staff, this was the biggest audience since River Dance “and the odd panto”.

“Do even better tomorrow night – raise your standards and do even better,” he urged the team.

The local cast members were selected by open audition and included many regulars on the Mullingar stage who proved as talented as the professional actors.

Mary Hughes as Mrs Wyse, Paul Doolin, who played Charlie Clarke, Harry Houlton and Philip Byrne, and Conor Walsh as Farrell McGuinness, were particularly forceful. Mary has starred in many local productions, most recently Bothered and Bewildered and Sive.

Paul too is a familiar face on the Mullingar stage since his debut in 1986. Conor, a graduate of drama and theatre studies at Trinity College, has performed in numerous musicals and plays in Mullingar.

Alan Conroy also excelled as the popular comedy character Mousy McGrath and as Brinsley McNamara. Alan first appeared on stage when he was 16 and been in numerous plays directed by his late mother Maura for Sonna Players. He went on to perform in musicals and subsequently won awards for acting and directing.

Richie Geoghegan played Shamessy Gollier. Since first taking to the stage in 2008, Richie has played numerous roles. James Elliffe, whom many will recognise from the stage and from Mullingar Library, played the priest in act 1 and was part of the ensemble. Christy Cole, a seasoned performer who has played in many local productions over the years, played Padna Padna.

John Griffin, who played Mangan, has been involved in acting since the age of 12 and has starred with Mullingar Student Players and in multiple pantomimes. This year he will play Prince Eric in The Little Mermaid.

Clare Egan, who played Yum Yum, has taken part in many Mullingar Arts Centre musicals, pantomimes, and plays as performer, working backstage and sourcing props.

Jack Foran Young, who played the priest, first took to the stage in 2017 when he was a transition year student. Since then he has played an impressive catalogue of characters with Mullingar Student Players.

Maedhbh Hughes, a musician and teacher, played Peep Bo. She performed with Mullingar Student Players and more recently has been involved in Mullingar’s Performing Arts group and has been the resident ‘baddy’ in various pantomimes as well as directing many school and community productions.

Maedhbh is currently in her third year of directing her choral show Mullingar Voices with the arts centre.

The children’s ensemble were Tom Lynch, Fiachra O’Farrell, Nainsi Kenny Dee, Aoife Irvine, Bella Carroll, Daisy O’Dowd, Abbie McGrath, Ruby Nally, Liam Duffy, Donnacha Moran, Stella McKeown, Cora Geoghegan, Aoife Cleary, Alice Geelon, Ivy Crowe and Ellen Tuite.

The teenage ensemble featured Alanna Corroon Gavin, Fiadh Donlon, Aoileann Mulvihill, Caolan Cleary, Hannah Lynch, Ella McDermott, Shannon Lynch, Alanna Looby, Eoin O’Grady, Max O’Keeffe, Hazel O’Hehir, Lilly Yore, Leon Griffin and Vivienne Preda. Mullingar talent was to the fore in production as well as on stage. The executive producer is Sean Lynch, who has been at the helm since Mullingar Arts Centre opened in 1998. Shane Barkey, presenter and broadcaster, was the public relations and marketing manager along with Caroline O’Keeffe, also of Mullingar Arts Centre.

Marie Brennan, who was the assistant stage manager and in charge of props, has been involved in theatre and Mullingar Arts Centre since she was 12 and has performed in many local musicals and pantomimes as well as backstage.

Other arts centre staff who were involved include operations manager Ivelina Belcheva, administration/ chaperone Denise Whelehan, centre technician Jacek Kowalczyk, box office Mary Jordan, Colm Lynn, Sarah Murphy and Natasha Kiernan, and accounts Eileen Smith.