Midland Arts and Culture Magazine - Register.ie

Midland Arts and Culture Magazine | SUMMER 2012My Residency inPart 2The TyroneGuthrie Centreby Ann Egan“…I had a plan of work for my fortnight here. I planned to write a series of poems inspired by the past. I had also broughtwith me notebooks in which I write on a daily basis. I had them as a fall back. I wanted to make the very best of thismarvellous and blessed opportunity gifted to me so my notebooks were with me like familiar friends but a little neglected.The Tyrone Guthrie Centre is ideal forreflection and also has all the moderncommunication facilities of Broadband,Wi-Fi and all technological support werely on today. Above all these modernaids, the house has a deep sense ofpeace, calmness and belonging. I settledin on my first day, listening to the windrise all about the sweeping grounds.The house is set well back from thesurrounding forest and while they areseveral beautiful, ancient trees growingabout the spacious lawns, they all lookdeep-rooted and sturdy enough towithstand the wind and storm’s rigours.My second day dawned to the peace ofthe storm’s aftermath. AnnaghmakerrigLake was shining in early morning sunriseas I walked around its shores and notedfallen chestnuts that gathered about thepath, victims of the wind, now abated. Mywalk was long and pleasant. It affordedme the time and peace to reflect on thedetails of the plan of writing I had laid outon my first evening. I sat awhile by theboathouse and soon in the tranquillitysurrounding me, began my new writings.There is no need to worry about domesticduties and chores for all one could everneed is left in readiness in the hugekitchen here. The house hums along andoffers all a person all essentials and evenmore. The helpfulness and friendlinessand willingness of all the staff create theillusion of effortless housekeeping andcooking but in the background carefuland meticulous planning makes it allpossible.It is a blessing to be here, to be in thesilence of this great house, to workaccording to a predetermined plan andwhen a break is needed from the work,there is the beauty of the forest walk, thesilver tranquillity of the lake and the verygrateful knowledge that my newnotebook’s pages are being filled.Later in the day I will type in and reviseand edit and bring it to the best shape Ican in the calm and warmth of amagnificent workroom.There is a time-honoured tradition here,all artists in the house meet at 7pm fordinner. The gong rings out to calleveryone to the kitchen where the largetable is set and can accommodate up to20 people. The fire is glowing in theraised stove and all gather about in thecompany of Robert and a magnificentmeal is served. The pace is slow andrelaxed. People move about the tablefrom one evening to the next and within afew days everyone knows theirneighbours. The talk usually begins withthe beauty of the meal, most of which isgrown and produced on the farm,everything is home-produced andhomemade and is truly beyond compare.The chat grows with the evening’spassing and it is very beneficial to hearthe work of each artist being discussed,their ideas, how the ideas are beingdeveloped, how the atmosphere of thehouse lends itself willingly and generouslyto the development and sharing of art.For myself, over the passage of my twoweeks residency here, I had manyinteresting conversations with artists,writers and composers. Sharing ideas isa great benefit and opens new horizonsof creativity. The house offers a backdropto these ideas and one gains invaluableinsights into one’s own journey withwords. What is so beneficial about beinghere is the constancy of calm, peace andthe sheer comfort of the surroundings,the care and concern of all the staff tomake a residency a blessing of learningand of achieving each day…See next issuefor the LASTinstallement22On board the Carousel with Leonard AndersonBy Majella ReidLeonard Anderson fell into musicalsby accident. A quiet invitation to joina male chorus, followed by a furtherinvitation to do some choreographyresulted in a full-time career for aman who is today an award-winningmusical director.Originally from county Down, Leonardis now well known in county Longfordhaving directed eight musicalsproduced by St Mel’s Musical Societysince 2000 – and he is currently inrehearsals for his ninth production withthe award-winning group!According to Leonard, this year thegroup has chosen one of its mostambitious projects to date - the muchlovedRodgers and Hammersteinclassic Carousel in a production whichwill feature more than 70 cast andcrew members.“Carousel is slightly darker as a musicaland it has some of the best known musicin musical theatre,” he explained.The musical, which first premièred in1945 on Broadway, is set in NewEngland in the United States and in itsday the production was consideredsomething of a taboo-breaker touchingupon topics such as suicide and wifebeating.“Along the way there is a lot of fun,however,” said Leonard. “This comes inthe form of Mr Snow (Tony Wadde) andCarrie (Deirdre Leavy).”Making his début performance inmusical theatre is Aughnacliffe manKevin Gormley who plays the lead roleof Billy Bigelow. Deirdre McCabe ofMohill, County Leitrim, plays Billy’s loveinterest, Julie Jordan.Mr Anderson, who has been directingmusicals full-time since 1993, believesthe story line is one which will appealto musical lovers, and indeed theatrelovers, of all ages.The plot revolves around the characterBilly Bigelow and his relationship withJulie Jordan. Billy falls fowl of badnessand eventually commits suicide.“When he goes to Heaven he is given achance to go down again (to Earth) andto do some good for a day. In doing sohe may just earn the right to get intoHeaven,” said the director.The stage will also be graced by StMel’s Musical Society stalwarts suchas Aideen Mulligan (Nettie Fowler),David Flaherty (Jigger), Liz Leavy (MrsMullin), Roy Davis, John Kelly, JustinForde, Gráinne Fox, Jim McDonald,Luke Cassidy, Heather Moore andmany, many more.This Rodger and Hammerstein classicis widely known for its legendarysongs which include June is Bustin’Out All Over, If I Loved You, and, ofcourse, the Liverpool football anthemYou’ll Never Walk Alone.“It (Carousel) really has something foreveryone. There are a couple of mimebits in it also and I’ve brought in AmyDuignan and her dancers to executethe balletic moves,” said Leonard.“We have about 23 children ranging inage from five years to 12 in thisproduction,” he added.The show which ran over the lastweekend in April at the BackstageTheatre was a sell out. M