Young stars of the future shine in Offaly youth centre's musical

THE young stars of "Shrek" put in a show stopping, foot stomping performance in St Mary's Youth and Community Centre last week. The polished cast pulled off an incredible success story with their absorbing adaption of the old favourite "Shrek the Musical".
The stage was populated by a host of familiar fairy tale characters throughout the show which was warmly received by sell-out crowds each night.
The musical was enhanced by the first act performances by the young four to six year olds – the tiniest adventurers.
The youngsters displayed not even the slightest hint of nerves as they put in a rocking performance which served as a great warm-up to the musical itself.

The tale of Shrek centres around an ogre who once upon a time lived in a far away swamp.
But his life is upended when the swamp is overrun by banished fairytale misfits who have been cast off by Lord Farquad, a tiny terror with big ambitions.
When Shrek sets off with his wisecracking donkey to confront the tiny terror he's handed a task – if he rescues Princess Fiona his swamp will be righted.
Shrek tries to win Fiona's love and vanquish Lord Farquad, but there are many twists and turns and obstacles to be overcome on the way.

David Og Bracken was superb in the demanding title role of Shrek and managed to expertly convey the ogre's complex personality to the audience.
David's character dominated much of the dialogue and action and was central to the entertaining storyline.
Captivating Princess Fiona was played by three different actors – Faith Burke Tracey, Anna Murphy and Layla Kinnarney. All three are talented actors and captured the essence of the demanding Princess' role.
Callum Cronly brought great personality to the Lord Farquad role and excelled as the tiny terror while Adam Lowbridge captured the wisecracking donkey to a tee.
Other cast members acquitted themselves brilliantly in the roles of the host of fairytale characters, from the Captain of the Guard to Pinnocchio, Peter Pan to the Big Bad Wolf.

The set was imaginatively designed by the hard-working crew while the costumes were created in the professional manner we have become accustomed to from previous productions from the team at St Mary's.
Speaking at the close of Friday night's performance, centre manager Stephen Lawlor paid tribute to all involved in the production and to the centre's sponsors, in particular main sponsor, Playtown, Tullamore.
The youth centre also received a grant of €800 for the arts office of Offaly Co. Council to assist in staging the musical.

CAST
Storyteller: Lexi McEvoy, Jennifer Winston, Kaydan Daly; Shrek – David Óg Bracken; Fiona – Faith Burke Tracey; Fiona Young – Anna Murphy; Fiona Teen – Layla Kinnarney; Lord Farquaad – Callum Cronly; Donkey – Adam Lowbridge; Dragon – Evelyn Varghese; Mamma Ogre – Emma Cronly; Pappa Ogre - Iarla Lawlor; Little Ogre – Tiernan Westman; Pinocchio – Alfie Lawlor; 3 Pigs – Emmie Molyneaux, Sophia White, Jessica Adlington; Ugly Duckling – Mia Arthurs; Mamma Bear – Jessica Francis; Papa Bear – Cian Kemp; Baby Bear – Abbie Daly; Wicked Witch – Roisin Glennon; Big Bad Wolf – Diarmuid Glennon; Gingy – Maia Kinnarney; Peter Pan – Lucy Dumpleton; Captain Of The Guard – Connall Noonan; Knights 1-4 – Keziah Varghese, T.J. Ward Mills, Kate Westman, Íarla Lawlor; Dwarf – Ben Adlington; Pied Piper – Priya O’Reilly; Snow White – Anna Owens; Cinderella – Georgie Cleary Carroll; Bishop – Neil Lowbridge; Puss in Boots – Aoibhinn Carroll; Tinkerbell – Muireann Carroll.

ENSEMBLE
Dulox
Grace Conlon, Adylen McGuinness, Freya Rowney, Cara McGrath, Megan Heffernan, Ciara Duffy, Kayla Rowney, Yana Timofejeva
Knights
Ceoil Power, Anna Murphy, Lexi McEvoy, Jennifer Winston, Kaidan Daly, Tiernan Westman.
Pied Piper
Katie Healion, Grace Cronly, Ellie Hensey, Amelia Cunnigham, Ben Adlington.
Fairy Tale Creatures
Deer
Evan Dunne, Abbie Dumpleton, Anna Murphy, Michaela Martin, Macey Murphy
Fairies
Ella Berry, Georgia Hoey, Hollie Westman, Meave Sutton, Sophia Conroy, Rhea Power
Woodland Princess
Emma Cronly

CREDITS
Director – Michelle White Murphy; Producer – Michelle White Murphy / Marie White; Singing Coaches - Tomás Griffin, Allyssa Bennies, Albert Jolly, Cameron Daly, Lucas Burke Tracey; Choreographer – Michelle White Murphy; Acting Coach – Stephen White, Tomás Griffin, Cameron Daly; Group Leaders – Juno Carroll, Meave McGrath, Kate Lawlor, Lucas Burke Tracey; Set Designer – Stephen Lawlor, Alan Bermingham, Chris Kerry, Tomás Griffin; Artist – Anna Gorbenko; Special Effectives – Roxanne Lawlor (Despite Stephen); Costume Designer – Nora Fenlon, Pauline Lawlor, Donna Mills; Lighting & Sound – Altec Productions, Tomás Griffin, Roxanne Lawlor, Albert Jolly, Stephen White; Stage Manager – Stephen Lawlor; Props Designer – Justyna Pietryka, Alicja Wrobel; Stage Hands – Nora Fenlon, Mairead Daly, Donna Mills, Alicja Wrobel, Pauline Lawlor, Chris Kerry, Alan Bermingham; Front of House – Mikey McDonagh, Cameron Daly; Photography & Programme Design – Justyna Pietryka.