CPC students 'Grease' engages, entertains, enthralls
A stunning performance of Grease won the CPC TY student members of cast and crew standing ovations last night at the first of three performances in the school's Assembly Hall, writes Brian Byrne. The evergreen musical of teenage love and angst set in an American high school in 1952 was interpreted brilliantly by an extraordinarily talented bunch of 2025 young people in Kilcullen.
Enthusiasm, verve, grace, pathos, passion, singing and dance talent and sheer great fun was the order of the stage from some 120 students out on the boards. Many others provided the unseen but essential backstage support, the front of house management, and the set design and construction, marketing and other many functions of artistic production were shared between students and CPC staffers.
First night performance jitters might have been expected, but instead the whole evening passed in a seamless and colourful entertainment worthy of a professional production anywhere.
Next year marks the 30th anniversary of CPC's involvement in Transition Year and through decades the lead Grease characters of Danny and Sandy, along with their Rydell High classmates, have told their enduring story in Cross and Passion many times. Whatever the TY musical choice in any year, it is a highlight not just for those involved but for audiences fortunate enough to get tickets to the invariably sellout shows. This year is no exception and kudos to all concerned.
Lead parts were played by Sean Plunkett and Zoe Moran, in the company of T-Birds Fionn O'Brien, Tom Hanamy, Jack Sammon and Fionn Conroy, and Pink Ladies Tara McNally, Bethany Swaine, Roisin Munnelly and Tanesha Murape. The whole cast of primary and ensemble dancers gave displays worthy of Dancing with the Stars pros. The direction by Tanya Gallagher, choreography by Emmett O'Sullivan, musical direction by Susan Fox and Angie Lawrence were all assisted by students. There are too many names to reproduce here, but if you can get your hands on the really excellent programme, well supported by local business and community advertising, they're all deservedly named there.
At this stage, we have run out of superlatives for CPC musicals, so just thank you all for a wonderfully enjoyable night.
A short Rough & Ready Video Production can be viewed below.
Some of the photos are shown here, as usual all the Diary's pictures can be seen at this link.
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