Written by Administrator | 19 November 2009

Tonight Thursday is the last night of St Coleman's College Production of La Mancha.

Speaking about the performance College President Very Rev Francis Canon Brown stated "For a considerable number of years, St. Colman’s has had a biennial musical production.  For the school community, the year of a school show is always a special year.  There is teamwork, par excellence, to ensure that the cast is enabled to bring a great deal of enjoyment to a large number of people.  I am very pleased that the students of St. Colman’s College and St. Mary’s High School are producing ‘Man of La Mancha’.  I am also delighted that five of the girls from St. Mary’s High School, who study A-level subjects in St. Colman’s are in the production.  For you, the cast of this show, I wish you well and guarantee that your experience and the memories associated with this production will remain with you forever."

"Parents, I wish to thank you for your dedication, support and co-operation since the production began in mid-September.  As always, you have been a tower of strength and support to the production team. I wish to express my sincere gratitude to the cast and all members of staff and the many students involved who have contributed to the successful production of ‘Man of La Mancha’.  Many staff and students have been involved in the many different aspects of production.  My most sincere gratitude to Miss Sinéad Frame (Musical Director) and Mr Declan McDaid (Director) for their hard work, outstanding generosity and dedication to the boys and girls on stage" Outstanding performances were evident each of the four nights of the show so far and it marked the first time girls were included in the production.

Five students from St. Mary’s High school took part

Aldonza (Dulcinea)                                                                 Bernadette McDermot

Maria (Innkeeper’s wife)                                                        Naoimh O’Keefe

Antonia (Alonso’s niece)                                                        Inis Fitzpatrick

Housekeeper (for Alonso)                                                      Gemma McGivern

Moorish Girl (Dancer)                                                            Ashley Copas

The musical director, Miss Sinead Frame and the director Mr Declan McDaid should be very proud of the instrumentalists and the cast

Synopsis:

After tax collector, soldier, and author Miguel de Cervantes and his assistant, Sancho, foreclose on a church that failed to pay its taxes; the two men are thrown into prison by the Spanish Inquisition. Soon the other prisoners steal Cervantes' possessions, but he convinces them to allow him to win back a package of papers that would not be of value to other people. Pleading his case, Cervantes gives a dramatic defence by re-enacting the story of Don Quixote of La Mancha: the passionate and poignant tale of a noble knight who lives in a world of madness and cannot see that chivalry has died. His holy quest is a mission of salvation to find compassion not for himself but for others. Don Quixote falls in love with the fair maiden, Aldonza (Dulcina), and convinces her to live a moral life. When Quixote is being knighted, the muleteers brutally assault Aldonza. Quixote and Sancho quickly come to Aldonza's rescue but in the end, Quixote only preaches forgiveness. Next, Quixote fights off his darkest foe, the Enchanter. Moved by the story, the prisoners return Quixote's manuscript just before he is called before the Inquisition.

Miguel de Cervantes- David Gilfedder

David Gilfedder is in his final year studying English, Drama and Geography. This is the fourth time that David has been prominently involved in the College musicals. This is his first leading role and he is looking forward to the huge challenge it presents.

David is also highly involved in Music and is a member of the College choir, orchestra, big band, jazz band and percussion ensemble.

He has thoroughly enjoyed the last two months of rehearsal and is looking forward to a series of successful performances.

Antonia (Dulcinea) - Bernadette McDermott

Bernadette McDermott is an A-Level student at Saint Mary’s High School and is currently studying Theatre Studies in Saint Colman’s College.

She is delighted to be playing the part of Aldonza in this year’s musical, “It is an honour to have been given this chance to learn from the best and I will savour the experience for many years.”

Captain of the Inquisition          Fiachra O’Maolcraoibhe

Set Design Mrs Eva Freeburn

Painted by S1 Art Students

Set Construction Mr Robert Barton

Choreographer Mrs Leo Reynolds

Musical Director Miss Sinéad Frame

Director Mr Declan McDaid

Instrumentation

 

Reed 1 (Flute I/Piccolo I) James Murphy

Reed 2 (Flute II/Piccolo II) Ciarán Martin

Reed 3 (Oboe) Liam Hollywood

Reed 4 (Clarinet I) Conor Maginn

Reed 5 (Clarinet II/Bass Clarinet) Conor Mulvenna

Trumpet 1 Stephen Murphy

Trumpet 2 Conor Keenan*

French Horn 1 Cahal Masterson

French Horn 2 James Somerville

Trombone 1 Catherine Keenan*

Trombone 2 Stephen Keenan

Guitar 1 Michael Murphy*

Guitar 2 James Sands

Percussion 1 Austin Gallagher*

Percussion 2 Matthew Heatley

Timpani Kevin Haughey

Bass David Bennett

Martina Masterson*

*= Guest

Cast in Order of Appearance

Captain of the Inquisition   Fiachra O’Maolcraoibhe

Sancho Panza (Manservant to Miguel de Cervantes)  Peter Kinkaid

Miguel de Cervantes (Don Quixote & Alonso Quijana)         David Gilfedder

Roles taken by the prisoners:

Governor                                                                                 David Hanna

Duke                                                                                       Oisín Scott

Muleteers:

Jose                                                                                         Tadhg Ó’Dubháin

Tenorio                                                                                    James Óg O’Hanlon

Paco                                                                                        John Phillips

Juan                                                                                         Sam Conway

Anselmo                                                                                  Joseph Halpenny

Pedro                                                                                       Jack McGowan

and a Guitar player                                                                     Christopher McGuinness

Aldonza (Dulcinea)                                                                 Bernadette McDermott

Innkeeper                                                                                Aidan Clarke

Maria (Innkeeper’s wife)                                                        Naoimh O’Keefe

Antonia (Alonso’s niece)                                                        Inis Fitzpatrick

Housekeeper (for Alonso)                                                      Gemma McGivern

Padre                                                                                       James Hanratty

Dr Sanson Carrasco-                                                               Oísín Scott

(Antonia’s Fiancée and Knight of the Mirrors)

Barber                                                                                     Gerard Donnelly

Moorish Girl (Dancer)                                                            Ashley Copas

Attendants to the Knight, Soldiers, Prisoners, Prison Guards, Gypsies (Moors), Men of the Inquisition:

Aaron Bradley, Brendan Digney, Caolan Murray, Daniel Treanor, Feargal Murphy, Fearghal O’Brien, Gavin Fleming, James Jordan, John O’Connell, Jordan Mackey, Martin O’Donnell, Micéal Mullen, Michael McCartan, Neill O’Higgins, Pádraig O’Hare, Raymond O’Donnell, Ross Cooper, Seán Higgins, Stephen Hannify, Timothy Conway, Tom Carroll, William Oliver