Carrick-on-Suir Musical Society’s young stars shine brightly in Sleeping Beauty panto

Sleeping Beauty was Carrick-on-Suir Musical Society's most memorable and enjoyable pantomime in years combining pop music  hits, sparkling comedy and a fairytale plot with a "Back to the Future" twist. 

The Liam Butler directed show, which finished its five-day run at Carrick's Strand Theatre last week, showcased the talents of some of Carrick Musical Society's young up and coming stage performers. 

Most notable among them was Liadhain O'Shea in the title role of Sleeping Beauty Princess Aurora, who displayed a lovely, clear singing voice in her solo performances.  

Her duet with Freddie Doyle as her sweetheart William,  of Ed Sheeran's love song  “Thinking Out Loud” was one of the stand out performances of the show. 

Tarryn Atlee was aptly imposing and imperious as the wicked "Magnificent" and seemed to really relish the role of the baddie lapping up the audience's boos and lifting the roof of the theatre with her shrill cackle.

 AIMS President Seamus Power very ably filled the shoes of the panto dame Lola and along with the antics of Bobby Landers as Tickles, Caolan Deehy-Power as Rupert and Audie Murphy as King Anthony filled the Strand with laughter. Kayleigh Cronin Carroll was a delightfully ditsy young fairy Jacinta. And the Ice Cream Song scene in the Second Act featuring Tickles, Lola, William and King Anthony  was a perfectly timed  piece of slapstick comedy. 

Other show hightlights were the performances of the Musical Society's junior academy members, children ranging in age from four years to their early teens. More than 130 of the Academy's young performers sang and dance in the show over the five days.  They were joined by the a strong chorus of older teenage singers and dancers.   

Top marks must also be awarded  for the level of audience participation encouraged by the show's cast. 

Apart from plenty of opportunities to boo at Magnificent and chant "Tickles in the House" at Tickles, the audience was taught a fun dance routine to the lyrics of George Ezra's "Shotgun" at the end of show before the final bows. 

View more photos from Carrick-on-Suir’s Sleeping Beauty pantomime in the latest edition of The Nationalist.