PHOTOS BY Pat Shortall
The first pantomime performance in Castlecomer was on 29th December 1959 with the show, Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves.
It was performed by the Deenside Players under the direction of Rev. Cleary, C.C.
It was a colourful, happy show, with laughs for all and songs to suit every taste.
The Castlecomer String Orchestra, under its director, Miss Nora Dooley, provided the music.
John Ryan played the lead role of Ali Baba and the excellent dame, Mrs. Baba was executed with great aplomb by Jimmy O’Connell.
Many famous names of Comer were on stage for this momentous show.
It proved to be an impressive debut and was an instant success. The tradition of a pantomime in Castlecomer was born and it has continued down through the years, with a few breaks along the way. Shows continued annually for 14 years, to the early 1970s.
Among the performances were perennial favourites including Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, Puss in Boots and Sinbad the Sailor. The pantomimes were well received and many familiar faces were to be seen every year on the stage in Castlecomer.
Deenside Players revival The Deenside Players were revived in the 1980s and some pantomimes were produced in the 1980s and the early 1990s. Shows performed included Cinderella, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Three Little Pigs and Sinbad the Sailor. Community Hall However, the shows stopped when the new Community Hall was being built in the 1990s. There was a new resurgence from 1996 when the Annual Castlecomer Pantomime was revived and it has thrived since then. Many familiar faces continue to be active in the Deenside Players and the next generation of families have started appearing in recent years. This family connection is an important factor in the panto in Castlecomer and it is a tradition that hopefully will continue into the future
Thrich tradition of Panto’ in Castlecome continued this year with their production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
The excellent script was penned by Bennetsbridge man Joe Murray.
Murray scripted a number of scripts over the years including, plays, short stories and poetry.
His stage experience over the last forty plus years ensuring his script was finely tuned and had all the right ingredients for the stage.
The Kilkenny Observer met up with The Pantomime Chairman Chubby Brennan who said that the committe could not be happier with the production.
“It is always great to see a show come together and click on opening night,” said Mr Brennan.
Chubby continued: “It is very much a community effort , and without the support of the people of ‘Comer it just wouldn’t happen”.
The show was executed with great precision and a lot of its success is due to the production team of John Coogan ( director) Sarah Brennan, (director), Michelle Wise (Choreographer), Oliie Hennessy and Jimmy Byrne (music). A special feature of the show were the backdrops painted by Eugene Conway.
And where would you be in pantomime without children?
This Panto saw 90 young children take to the stage and their enthusiasm and smiles was worth its weight in gold.
Snow White was played by Akira Cox who, in her first leading role wowed the audience. Akira’s mother Nicole was superb as the magic mirror.
The seven dwarfs did what was expected. They treated the audience to a wonderful evening of comedy.
Yet another new cast member was Liam Brennan who played the role of Prince Hugh and made the part his own.
Michael Dowd and Chubby Brennan are a joy to watch and they bounced off of each other echoed by grett laughter from the audience.
Lisa O’Rourke who is well known for her stage work took on the role of Queen Grimilla and played in with her usual panache and style.
Mary O’Brien as the crone was perfection personified, while John Coogan as Dame Bakewell showed his usual style and stagecraft to carry off another super performance.
Roll on Pantomime 2025.
We enclose some wonderful shots of the Castlecomer Pantomime compliments of Pat Shortall.
