Anything Goes Ready to Go
I was told there would be cake! Suddenly I found myself in front of a piano at Lakeview School, auditioning for the Galway Musical Society. “But I don’t know any songs” I exclaimed, already resigned to my fate. “Ah sure you’ll sing something” encouraged the chorus master, Paddy Daly, as I gave in and launched into my version of ‘I’ll tell me ma’ complete with chicken arm dance moves. ‘Entertaining at least’ I consoled myself as I turned a brighter shade of red.
It was all a bit of a misunderstanding. My good friends Chontelle Kenny invited me to a GMS introduction evening, involving aforementioned cake, and, I thought, perhaps a lecture and a slide show of sorts. Its 30 years since GMS first stepped out on stage with their production of Grease and I felt it would make a good article for the Craic in Galway magazine.
I always wanted to be in a production, having been brought up on a diet of musicals and the annual drama festival in Athlone. I have photos of my late father dressed up in costume as he too, tread the boards as part of the chorus, and I was curious to see what it was all about. I have been involved in lindy-hop, charleston and balboa dancing for the last ten years, and yet trying to merge singing and dancing at the same time is a whole new ball game!
There was plenty of cake alright, that part was true, but six months on, I am just days away from taking part in this year’s production of Anything Goes, at the Town Hall Theatre. As I write those words, I feel my heart starting to pound and my stomach churn. I am in some kind of shock.
All through the dark, murky nights of winter, we methodically turned up for singing classes with Paddy every Monday. Soon, we were learning new dance moves and choreography with Claire Rigney and, within the blink of an eye, began rehearsing up to four times a week to put this show together.
It’s as though I have been going through the motions, stepping it up week after week, without realising that I will be performing - in front of – people. Although for a €50 annual membership, we have received so many top notch singing and dance lessons, you wouldn’t get it anywhere else.
With my social life outside GMS firmly on hold until the end of March, and with lots of very understanding friends, I wonder why so many are drawn to take part, year in, year out. There is so much involved in a show, and that’s just the chorus members. The principals carry the weight of the dialogue and show stopping numbers.
This Cole Porter comedy has it all, with tap dancing and songs such as ‘I Get A Kick Out of You’, ‘You’re The Top’ and of course ‘Anything Goes’. Then there is the set, lighting, orchestra, costumes, back stage and front of house crew to consider before we even step out on stage.
Brid Gavin was involved in the very first production of Grease, 30 years ago, and is back again for Anything Goes. At the press launch, she gave us an insight into what being involved can do as she thanked directors Brian and Sean Power for “giving us confidence in our 20’s” and “while some of us may have lost our confidence along the way, we are getting it back again”.
I’ve met a lot of great new people, which isn’t easy as you get older and are set in your ways. It’s important to step out of your comfort zone, challenge yourself, and be open to something new. And they are still feeding us cake, and buns, and sweet treats as the rehearsals continue. So come along.
Anything Goes runs from March 24th-28th at the Town Hall Theatre at 8pm with a matinee performance on Saturday 28th at 3pm.
