The recent two-night presentation at the Theatre Royal of Music Cues and Dancing Shows was a fanfare for variety and an excellent showcase for upandcoming entertainers. The Richie Hayes Stage School has come a long way in two years and is set to expand further with the classes at Garter Lane. Richie Hayes and his partner Erica Delaney bring such dedication and enthusiasm to their classes and their own performances are filled with vigour, attack and crowd-pleasing entertainment. They are inspirational and their students echo and reflect that romance in performance.

The show opened with a snappy video presentation featuring Des Manahan and Linda Gough as Richie Hayes is put in jail for alleged crimes against show-business. This rocks into a Jailhouse Rock featuring Emma Ryan as a prison dancer. Chris Halligan joined Richie for a clever Johnny Be Good, as Richie slipped into a Michael Bouble, Home.

The baby tots (4 to 6) delighted the audience in Teddy Bears Picnic and a jolly Lollipop featured Kelly Wyse, Jack Kelly and Jack Stickel. The Juniors and Inters lit up the stage with a slick High School Musical 2 excerpt.

I loved the confidence of Denise Walsh and Shannon Steward in a Two Old Ladies Sketch, devised by the new Drama tutor, Jenny Clooney.

A Hairspray feature was a wow with some fine future talent on display. Emma Ryan excelled as did Yasmine Clarke and a routine Mamma I’m A Big Girl Now, was outstanding. Emily Phelan impressed with Good Morning Baltimore as Amber Searson shone in Welcome To The 60s.

Paula Weldon stopped me in my tracks with a brilliant I Can Hear The Bells and I look forward to seeing her again in the Dungarvan Youth High School Musical this week.

Glenn Murphy, Donal Flynn and James Upton delighted the audience in It Takes Two and Erica Delaney and Michael O’Brien served up a treat in You Can’t Stop The Beat to close the first half.

After the interval, Yasmine Clarke and Emma Ryan danced up a storm with Richie Hayes in the exciting Dancing Fool. Dick Hayes delighted with a touch of Neil Sedaka, Galway Girl and a powerful Somewhere before Audrey McAuliffe played wonderful fiddle in an Irish set.

Richie Hayes lead into many of the items and it was such a boost for the young performers to share his presence in the spotlight. I once again loved his Andy McWebber sequence but it was surpassed by a new physical theatre entertainment, The Richie Hayes Jazz Trio, where in a clever light show by Paul Browne, he mimed to drums, bass, fiddle and piano. This was work of a high order rom a quality entertainer who has lots to show us yet.

A wannabe sketch had lots of vigour and Evan O’Hanlon shone in a Louis Walsh take-off. Then Rebecca Mulhall impressed with two ladies in red, Jadine Buggy and Caoimhe Savage, in a splendid Do Your Thing. Erica Delaney led the Young Adults into a throbbing, This Joint Is Jumpin’, to drive up the fever pitch.

Evan O’Hanlon returned in a Take That Medley with Ben Condon, Adam Hayes, Ben Nolan and Cian Upton. With these young stars Never Forget Where You’re Coming From took on new meaning and dancers filled the stalls aisles for Could It Be Magic.

Richie Hayes just kept getting better as he sang in front of a twinkling star cloth as Erica Delaney pirouetted on point. His version of Inisfree was wonderful and he led the host of young stars into an emotional finale of One Voice in a hail of glitter to create a stunning visual end.

The set by John Hayes was splendid. Paul Browne’s lighting was wonderful. The range of costumes was a tribute to the detail of Erica Delaney, Avril Musgrave and Elaine Tighe. David Hayes provided splendid musical direction in a night to remember.