GAA WITH A TWIST
On the 14th Of December, we showcased our Transition year production in front of a crowded hall, to our family and fellow students alike, amongst other visitors from Portumna. We had known since that start of the year that we wouldn’t have a musical, and would instead be taking part in a variety show. This show was called 'GAA With A Twist'. There were different scenes throughout the show from Grease, Many Young Men of Twenty, and Philadelphia Here I Come, there were also singing and dancing acts, as well as other speeches and performances, to all of which, we as a group came up with ways to add a spin to these scenes, incorporating the GAA one way or another.
Because there was so much variety to the show, some people were required to play more than one part. In the opening scene, I played the part of Patrick William Nally, in the genesis of the GAA. I also had the task of acting as 'Danger', the main character in Many Young Men of Twenty, a character massively contrasting to my role of Knicki in Grease, which was probably the part I enjoyed playing the most. As well as playing these roles, I took part in the Céilí dance during one of the old Irish pub scenes, which i found very tough to master. I was also looking forward to playing the bongos in the background on the Callipso, until Mr Coughlan outrageously decided my talents were surplus to requirements for the scene.
Due to this being the first time our school has hosted a show like this, we probably weren't prepared very well. Many felt that we hadn't rehearsed enough, and many more felt that the whole show was just a bit cringe worthy. To worsen the situation, we hadn't practiced with mics until the day of the show, and ended up not having enough, meaning people would have to use a hand held microphone instead. Having said this, the show went surprisingly well on the night, and I think it caught many people by surprise. I think that it really did showcase all the talent in our year, and it was definitely something that people hadn't seen before. Although we many have been apprehensive about the shoe in the beginning, as the weeks went on everyone really became more confident, and grew into their characters. Overall, there were many ups and downs in the build up to the show. It was a great experience that helped bring people out of their shells, bring the year group closer together, and ultimately, it actually turned out quite well. It was a great feeling when all our hard work paid off, and i would definitely recommend for another TY group to showcase a similar production.
Because there was so much variety to the show, some people were required to play more than one part. In the opening scene, I played the part of Patrick William Nally, in the genesis of the GAA. I also had the task of acting as 'Danger', the main character in Many Young Men of Twenty, a character massively contrasting to my role of Knicki in Grease, which was probably the part I enjoyed playing the most. As well as playing these roles, I took part in the Céilí dance during one of the old Irish pub scenes, which i found very tough to master. I was also looking forward to playing the bongos in the background on the Callipso, until Mr Coughlan outrageously decided my talents were surplus to requirements for the scene.
Due to this being the first time our school has hosted a show like this, we probably weren't prepared very well. Many felt that we hadn't rehearsed enough, and many more felt that the whole show was just a bit cringe worthy. To worsen the situation, we hadn't practiced with mics until the day of the show, and ended up not having enough, meaning people would have to use a hand held microphone instead. Having said this, the show went surprisingly well on the night, and I think it caught many people by surprise. I think that it really did showcase all the talent in our year, and it was definitely something that people hadn't seen before. Although we many have been apprehensive about the shoe in the beginning, as the weeks went on everyone really became more confident, and grew into their characters. Overall, there were many ups and downs in the build up to the show. It was a great experience that helped bring people out of their shells, bring the year group closer together, and ultimately, it actually turned out quite well. It was a great feeling when all our hard work paid off, and i would definitely recommend for another TY group to showcase a similar production.