Students of Scoil Mhuire Kanturk staged three sold out performances of the much loved musical “The Sound of Music” on December the 14th, 15th and 16th. Each performance ended with a standing ovation for the wonderfully talented cast. The production carried on a proud tradition of musical drama at the school under the direction of Ms Mary Farrell. The excellent backing track was compiled by Neil Moylan and choreographer was Shauna Cranitch.

This stage adaptation, which is a Christmas classic, included a multitude of classics from the original 1966 production such as Do-Re-Me, My Favourite Things, Climb Every Mountain and Edelweiss.

The performances were the culmination of three months of intense rehearsals by dedicated students and staff with practice sessions each day after school and on Saturdays since September. The show marks an important event in the school calendar and is seen as integral to student development at the school. Auditions took place last May to cast leading roles, but participation went beyond this. Virtually every student and staff member was involved, working tirelessly on set design, stage construction, sound engineering, lighting, chorography, backstage management, costumes and makeup, tickets, programme and raffle.

The show was an outstanding success and there is great credit due to all involved especially the students whose talent, commitment and hard work ensured that it was of the highest standard. The part of Maria was played by the extremely talented Eadaoin O’Keeffe. Daragh Healy-Fitzgerald was the excellent Captain Von Trapp. One could hear a pin drop as the Mother Abbess (Muireann Vaughan) sang the much-loved Climb Ev’ry Mountain. The Baroness was played by Ella O’Rourke and the loveable Max was played by Fionn Neenan. The Von Trapp children were the excellent Alannah Drumm (Liesel), Jack O’Dwyer (Friedrich), Robyn O’Carroll (Louisa), Ciaran Osei (Kurt), Jennifer O’Sullivan & Paula Lisauskaite (Briggita), Tina Morton (Marta) and eight year old Úna Keating, who stole the hearts of the audience, played Gretl, the youngest of the Von Trapp family.

The part of Rolf was played by David Alexandre and the Von Trapp household was run smoothly by housekeeper Frau Schmidt (Niamh O’Brien) and Franz (Evan O’Brien). Other cast members included Janne Surma (Sister Margaretta), Ellen Sheehan (Sister Bertha), Deirdre Leahy (Sister Sophia), Eoghan Boyce (Admiral Von Schreiber), Neil O’Connor (Baron Von Elberfeld), Donal Jones (Herr Zeller), Atene Aidukeviciute (Baroness Von Elberfeld), Dancers; Eimear Boyce, Becky Burke, Eve McAuliffe, Ruth O’Connor, Eve O’Shaughnessy, Ciara O’Sullivan, Atene Aidukeviciute, Nuns; Eimear Boyce, Becky Burke, Eve McAuliffe, Caoimhe O’Sullivan, Sadhbh Neenan, Eve O’Shaughnessy, Ciara O’Sullivan, Atene Aidukeviciute, Soldiers; Eoin Guiney, Adam Murphy, Trevor Watson, CJ Sherlock. Eimear Boyce (Fraulein Schweiger), Kieran Boyle, Darren Heffernan, Tadhg Jones (The Trio of Herwegen and ball scene dancers). Choir; Jackie Osei, Aoife Higgins, Roisin Hennessey, Julia Rodrigo, Cliodhna Martin, Joanne O’Hanlon, Paula Lisauskaite and Jennifer O’Sullivan, The show could not have gone on without the hard work of many staff members, the Parents’ Association and students who did Trojan work behind the scenes. These students were Ronan Buckley, Diarmuid O’Mahony, Ruairi O’Mahony, Gillian Power, Rachel O’Riordan, Shauna Burke-Deasy, Mia Carolan –Moulds, Aoife Higgins, Tara Kelly, Andrea Buckley and Samantha O’Dea.

Well done to all involved.