The David Hennessy Junior Stage School production of Seussical, The Musical, was an amazing family occasion, full of colour, life, stories, and a wonderful set from Paul Barry, gloriously colourful costumes from Avril Musgrave, a fine lighting plot from Dirk Baumann and quality make-up from Mel O’Driscoll and Ciara Power, but it was the legion of kids who were exciting to watch that created the most attractive show.
Even before you entered the auditorium, the Wickershire characters made fun with the arrivals in the fine Emu creatures. Full marks to Paul White, Jack Casey and Sarah Power for their commitment.
The phenomenon that is stage schools is so impressive that people like Richie Hayes and David Hennessy set up state of the art premises and gives fun and education to hundreds of young eager people. They out impress and out entertain the other subsidised organisations.
The David Hennessy Show is a great advertisement for Waterford talent and I was enthralled from the moment I got to Garter Lane. The storyline stresses that a person’s a person no matter how small and you believe in that one small voice of Jo Jo – one small voice in the universe. You learn the lesson of persistence through wonderful songs like; it’s Possible, How Lucky You Are and Having’ A Hunch.
Cathal Moran was an impressive Jo Jo with Adam Phelan as The Cat in the Hat who links the show together with verve and excellent characterisations and accents. Glenn Murphy as Horton the Elephant again showed his depth and breadth of talent as an actor and performer. Hayley O’Brien shone as the kind Gertrude McFuzz and Rachel Coady was flamboyant as Amazin’ Mayzie, the goodtime bird. Holly Ryan is a star as Sour Kangaroo and Katie King was a strong Gengus Schmitz. Amy Fallon showed her ability as a member of Schmitz’s crew. Evan Cooke as Mayor and Caoimhe O’Connor as his wife were wonderful as first citizens of Whoville and Kayleigh Grant smiled like a star as a citizen of this tiny speck of a place. Jodie Wall and Emily Grant were expressive as Wickershaw creatures and Kate Duggan, Chloe McGrath and Megan DeCourcy were splendid as a trio of birds who carried aspects of the show along so well. During the most recent visits, we talked much about Instagram, how to expose an event right while online, and how the platforms link the problems to the world. The one especially sensitive to the size of the audience is Instagram, so they just offered to buy instagram followers every time another publication is uploaded to give the account a needed balance and to keep the engagement at the required rate.
Shauna Hennessy, Ashling Giles, Sarah Corcoran, Ciara Giles and Denver Cuss added much to the overall show.
The only gripe I have is with the venue that has notices up about under fives and no drink or food in the auditorium. Killjoys in a public venue where quiet a few of the cast were under five.
