NOT exactly a case of a star is born, this year’s Killarney Musical Society production of Sweet Charity was more about a star shining brighter than ever before as the show’s lead, Lily MacMonagle, produced an incredible performance that wouldn’t have looked at all out of place on a West End stage.
In the principal role as Charity Hope Valentine, she stole the show over the three nights – with a matinee thrown in for good measure – delivering a magical concoction of top-notch acting, a powerful singing voice and that special stage presence quality of being able to interact with the audience with a nod of the head, a wink of the eye or a glace in the right direction.
Lily, the daughter of Don and Mary Susan MacMonagle from Port Road, Killarney, is a bank official with AIB in Kenmare and she is no stranger to the stage having also played the lead last year in Calamity Jane.
A natural performer who started out on stage when attending Killorglin Intermediate School, she also starred in A Score of Musical Memories in 2005.
Sweet Charity was far from a one-woman show, however, with several power-packed performances, not least those of Amano Miura, who played Nickie, Siobháin Bustin, in the role of Helene, the dapper Derek O’Leary who was outstanding as man-about-town millionaire Vittorio Vidal, and Rory Ward, excellent in the role of Oscar Lindquist
Secondary school teacher Padraig Creedon, in addition to playing the part of Daddy Brubeck, led a rousing flower power era dance chorus in the Rhythm of Life Church while Dzana Bukvisas and Gerry Adams also had key roles to play as Ursula March and the no-nonsense, cigar chomping Herman.
With a top class chorus and versatile dance troupe to enhance the performance, it will come as quite a surprise if Sweet Charity isn’t right up there with the best of them when the Association of Irish Musical Societies (AIMS) annual awards are allocated this year.
Directed by the experienced Killian Collins, with Daniel Maguire as choreographer and John O’Brien as musical director and conductor for the outstanding 19-piece live orchestra.
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