Kilcullen Diary: CPC students tour de force Bohemian Rock

DID YOU KNOW?

There are three different scientific phases of twilight. Civil twilight is the first, named because the sky is still bright enough for people to go about normal 'daytime' activities — technically this is from when the sun is just below the horizon to when it's six degrees lower. Nautical twilight is when the sun is between six and 12 degrees below the horizon, named because it is the time when stars become visible and sailors used them to fix their position. Astronomical twilight is when the sun is 12 to 18 degrees below the horizon and the sky finally appears black, but to astronomers is not quite so. After that is true scientific night.

Thursday, March 07, 2024

CPC students tour de force Bohemian Rock

"There are grandparents here tonight who were in the audience when their own children were on the stage, and many of those children are here tonight to see their own sons and daughters perform."

That comment from someone in the audience last night at Bohemian Rock in Cross and Passion College put into perspective the longevity of the annual Transition Year Musical, writes Brian Byrne. The evening was also, yet again, an example of both the level of talent amongst the students, and the dedication of the Music Department staff in keeping the show going every year.

In the middle of a 3-night run, the young people in all roles were clearly poised and practised, with no signs of nervousness, and gave a show that was colourful, musically rich, and performed with a polish which many professional troupes might envy.

More than 150 people were involved between core cast, dancers, backing vocals and band, and staging and production staff, as well as front of house management, security and ticket sales. "It makes for a lifetime memory for all involved," says CPC Principal Joe Leonard, acknowledging the 'enormous' amount of hard work by staff and students. TY Coordinator Glenda Groome also commended the commitment of those involved, noting also that apart from the Transition Year group there is substantial help from students and teachers in other class years in making the shows such a success.

The show is set in a dystopian future where computers devise the music and a monolithic global corporation decides what the population listens to, and even what they are allowed to think (AI and Big Social Media, anyone?). The lead character rebels are Galileo Figaro, played by Carl Kenna, and Scaramouche played by Katie O'Donnell. Both young people, with the help of the outlawed Bohemians, take on the corporation led by the Killer Queen (Lena Galuszka) and Commander Khashoggi (Luke Costello). Their quest? — to rediscover the 'real' rock music which has been hidden away. The musical is punctuated by songs from superband Queen.

Do they succeed? If you were there on Tuesday and Wednesday night, you know the answer, and if you are lucky enough to have tickets for tonight, you'll find out.

A tour de force from CPC TY 2024. Musical Directors are Susan Fox and Angie Lawrence, while Lisa Rohan produced, Tanya Gallagher directed, and choreographer Áine Winter was assisted by Sophie Doyle.

As usual, we post a short selection of pictures here, but all the Diary's photographs can be accessed here.