Kicking off the Sunday shoes

Thomas Lyons

Under the watchful eye of Chris Currid, three Loreto students step forward and layer their vocals in a sublime rendition of 'Somebody's Eyes'. This was 12 days before the performers took to the stage with a joint production, along with the Royal School, of Footloose.

The School Room at the Royal is thronged with Transition Year pupils who are honing their skills as they prepare for the Ballinagh Community Centre staging of the interpretation of the classic 1984 film.
Set in the 1980s, Footloose tells the story of Ren McCormack. Moving from Chicago Ren (Nathan Clarke) is in shock when he discovers the small Midwestern town he now calls home has made dancing and rock music illegal. Struggling to fit in, Ren tries to reconcile his love of dancing with his new place of residence.
With the help of new friend Willard Hewitt (Lloyd Hastings) and defiant teen Ariel Moore (Abbey Fee) he tries to loosen up the conservative town. But Ariel's influential father, Reverend Shaw Moore (Jamie McDowell), stands in the way. It's a voyage of self discovery with a bit of teenage rebellion thrown in.
Back in the Royal School, the School Room is abuzz with young people walking through dance moves and practising harmonies as director Chris Currid steps out to talk to the Celt about the show. “I've been directing school musical shows over the last number of years,” Chris says, “My wife is also on the team as the choreographer of this production. My family have always been very involved in musicals and since my mid-teens I have been on stage as a professional performer.”
Associated with several musical societies, Chris is bringing his wealth of experience to bear on on the school's joint production: “I directed the last two productions for Tullyvin Musical Society.
“It is a huge undertaking to do a musical such as Footloose. We have great bunch of young people. For a lot of them, including some of the leads, it's their first time on stage. They are doing very well and it's going to be a great show.”
The combination of TY students from the two schools provides a good pool for the director to work from: “The actors are putting a lot of work and it's difficult to single any individuals out. Having said that, our Ren is fantastic, as well as our Ariel. Everyone is pulling their weight and helping each other out.”
Of course being in charge means that it is not all fun and games: “I have to crack the whip sometimes. I don't like doing it, but it's a monster of a show. We started late January, it has been weekly every since. We are getting in a bit more practice now we are coming closer to the date.”
Abbey Fee says she enjoys portraying Ariel: “I think it's very relatable. Particularly my character, she likes to go against the rules, which I suppose a lot of teenagers are like that.”
Her co-lead, Nathan Clarke, concurs with this assessment: “It deals with a lot of issues that are relevant today. The passing of time makes no different the subject matter will always be important to young people.”
This is not Nathan's first time to tread the boards, but it is the most challenging: “I did a play in primary school that was funded under the Peace IV Collaboration through Sharing in Education (CASE). There are a lot of lines in this show. I think, of the 15 scenes, I only get a break for four.”

Tickets

The public anticipation for the show is very high: “They are selling around 350 tickets per night, so there will be fair audience in front of us. When we get out in front of an audience, the energy will come,” Nathan says. This is something Abbey says makes months of preparation worthwhile: “The audience really add to a show. I did some stage work with the Performance Academy here in Cavan, but nothing to this extent. I am really looking forward to it.”
“The costumes are good, they are different. It is a mix there are different styles,” Abbey says. Nathan clarifies this by adding: “The opening scene is in Chicago, so it is urban, leather jackets and that kind of thing. Then we move to a small country town so it's more check shirts for the boys, shorts and boots for the girls.”
The collaborative effort between the two schools has added an extra dimension to the show: “I think we have really good year groups and they are all supportive of each other. Everyone is enjoying the whole experience. It is very different,” Abbey told the Celt.
Also in the limelight is Lloyd Hastings and Jamie McDowell, both from Crossdoney. Lloyd plays Willard Hewitt while Jamie takes on the part of Reverend Shaw Moore.
Jamie described the character he portrays: “He's very righteous. He controls the town of Bomont and doesn't allow dancing or singing because of an accident involving his son five years previously. He blamed the accident, in which four people died, on liquor and drugs.”
Jamie describes playing the adult as “nerve racking”.
Lloyd's role is closer to his own age: “Willard Hewett is Ren's best friend. At the start I don't like him, but over the course of the story our friendship grows. I'm a bit of a hillbilly and very prone to starting fights. Willard is hot tempered. That's not like me, I'm a gentle giant.”
Lloyd says the strength of the show is in the ensemble: “All the cast are great. The main roles are really top notch. The songs are ones you still hear on the radio nowadays, songs like 'Lets hear it for the boys' or 'Somebody's Eyes', maybe not on iRadio, but you they are still played.”
Jamie says that the show is very engaging: “My favourite scene in the musical is when Willard meets Ren, it is very funny.”
Footloose received funding from the Education Authority in Northern Ireland in partnership with Léargas under the Peace IV Collaboration through Sharing in Education (CASE).
CASE is for primary and post-primary schools in Northern Ireland and the Border Counties of Ireland. Its focus is on schools with no or limited previous experience of providing shared education opportunities to their children and young people.
The acting principal of the Royal School, Padraic Corley, commended all involved: “I am delighted that our Transition Year students have immersed themselves into this collaborative project with the Transition year students in Loreto Collage Cavan. I am most grateful to the commitment of time given by both staff and parents to the project. I would also like to acknowledge the funds received from the European unions CASE PEACE IV Programme. I am really looking forward to watching the musical.”
Principal Angela McGarvey of Loreto College said the initiative has many benefits: “This project has provided a wonderful opportunity for the students in Loreto Collage to learn new skills and develop new friendships with the students from the Royal School. This collaboration also strengthened links between the management and staff of the two schools. I look forward to future projects with the Royal School.”
Entering the final phase of rehearsals, director Chris says things are remarkable calm: “It's actually very relaxed at the moment. I never find that. I am sure next week there will be a meltdown,” he laughs, “As long as they are on top of it and feel comfortable in themselves I'll leave them to it. If they need anything from me, I'm there.”
Footloose is presented by Loreto School and The Royal School in Ballinagh Community Centre, Ballinagh with it's opening night last night. Tonight and tomorrow [May 3 and 4] is your last chance to see this wonderful show. It commences at 8pm and tickets costing €10 can be pre-purchased in advance at either schools or in Easons, or on the door.