Titanic musical was a great success in Cistercian College Roscrea

FOR this year's theatrical production in Cistercian College Roscrea, the acclaimed musical “All Aboard the Titanic” was chosen, and it proved to be an inspired choice.
The show was a great success, drawing large crowds every evening, and, when I attended, it was clear that the boys were thoroughly enjoying performing in it.
All Aboard the Titanic was first performed, in Broadway, in 1997 and received many plaudits from the critics, one of whom predicted it would be added to the musical canon. And so it has proven to be. Winner of several Tony awards the musical has remained popular ever since.
The storyline is pretty different to the movie. There is no big love story. Rather, it focusses on the dreams and aspirations of those travelling aboard, which are rendered poignant by the fact they are sailing on a doomed ship. The musical also focusses on the sharp divide between the classes during the Edwardian era, and the obvious ineptitude and failure of such a society.
All Aboard the Titanic has many great songs which charm the listener and fantastic big choral pieces which are rousing and uplifting. While the subject matter is grim and doom-laden, you also leave the theatre with a smile on your face because you've been hugely entertained by some excellent music and singing.
It was obvious to me that the boys and staff had put in an enormous amount of work into this year's production. It was also great to hear some of the high quality singing here. Some of the boys' voices were excellent.
The orchestra was outstanding, featuring 13 members, all of whom played their socks off and created a stirring sound.
The musical opens with the passengers arriving on the day of the Titanic's sailing from Southampton. We are briefly introduced to many of the characters and then all their voices merge into an excellent choral number. 25 of the boys played the different roles, some of them showed considerable acting talent, others high quality singing prowess. MacDarra Fitzpatrick was excellent at portraying the tyrannical and foolish Bruce Ismay, the chairman and managing director of The White Star Line (the Titanic's parent company) and determined to sail across the Atlantic in as fast a time as possible. “Go faster!” is his constant refrain when speaking to the captain, who's played very ably by Conor Mulrooney. It's the captain's last voyage but, tragically for everyone, he's unwilling to stand up to Ismay's bullying ways and submits to his crazy commands of going faster; steering the boat through dangerous iceberg terrain at the dangerous speed of 23 knots.
In the third scene we are brought down to the Boiler Room where we meet the stoker Frederick Barrett, played by David Purcell. David's singing voice was one of the highlights of the show. It's a pleasant voice with the ability to comfortably hit the high notes.
In the fourth scene we are introduced to some of the third class characters, including Edgar and Alice Beane, performed by Charlie Whelehan and John Duggan. Charlie and John both acted very competently and John handled the singing very nicely.
In the fifth scene it is still Thursday April 11th, 1912 (the Titanic sank in the early hours of April 15th) and we meet the first class passengers who are in the restaurant, dining. This scene finishes with a rousing chorus, which has a touch of smugness about it, thus reflecting the privileged position of the people singing it. The orchestra was especially good here, showing considerable skill in their playing.
In Scene 7 we are in the Third Class Dining Saloon. It's Saturday April 13th. Alice Beane is dreaming of a better life in the US. Others join in with the dreaming, creating one of the best choruses in the musical. The three Kates, Kate McGowan, Kate Murphy and Kate Mullins (played with charm and talent by Conor O'Brien, Emmett Armstrong and Aaron Wallace) tell the audience of their dreams. One wants to be a Lady's Maid, another a Governess. The others join in, telling us their aspirations when they arrive in America. A man says he wants to be a millionaire in the US. “In America you rise above your class,” someone tells us.
The next scene we are in the Radio Room where David Purcell's character Frederick Barrett has come to send a telegram via telegraph back home to his beloved. The person sending the telegraph is Harold Bride, played by Quan Morgan O'Brien. Quan had a lovely singing voice and his duet with David was one of the highlights of the show. The duet is also one of the best pieces of music in the musical.
The following scene is on D deck where passengers have assembled for Sunday Service on the morning of April 14th. The scene begins in a solemn fashion with the singing of a hymn but soon breaks out into a lively, jaunty mood with dancing and fun accompanied by a saxophone.
Afterwards, Alice Beane tells us she was been dancing with members of the First Class – a dream come true! Meanwhile, Jim Farrell and Kate McGowan are feeling optimistic and full of life because they are going to be married.
Everything calms down however and the first act of the musical finishes on a bleak note as the Ship's Bridge Lookout spots an iceberg, too late, and sounds the iceberg warning.
This year's show was a fantastic evening's entertainment and warm congratulations should go to all the staff and boys who obviously worked so hard at it for weeks. Each and every one can be proud of their contribution to the production, ably carrying on a tradition of annual November shows stretching back to 1964. This tradition adds considerably to the artistic and creative dimensions of the students and to the College itself. As well as providing enjoyment to all involved the annual shows also provide significant educational value.
Finally, a big congratulations to the directorial team, including William Cullagh (Musical Director), Kirsty Ryan (Director/Choreographer) and Mags McGee (Producer).