It is almost Christmas and there is something magical in the air. And of course the magic runs into early January when our favourite fairy tales come to life in the form of the annual pantomime.
This year’s production is Rapunzel, a hairy tale if ever there was one. Based on the story of the Princess Rapunzel with the magical hair, who gets stolen away from her parents and locked in a tower.
But that is where the similarities end. In this tale you don’t have just one prince trying to save the princess, there are four. Although three of them are not that nice really. And there is not just one nasty old witch who kidnaps the beautiful Rapunzel, there are three of the old hags! But of course they are not alone, they have their gargoyle minion Spout do their dirty work.
Will the king and queen get to see their beautiful daughter again? Will any of the four princes save the princess? Will Rapunzel and her nanny, Nanny Gladrags, ever be freed? Will Harold ever get a name right, and is that really a talking donkey you see?
A tale full of laughs, fun, slap stick, dancing and of course the usual fabulous musical numbers, this production is gearing up to be just as fabulous and fantastic as all the previous magical productions that went before it.
It is the first time that Castlebar Pantomime have produced Rapunzel, so even they are waiting to find out exactly what will happen to poor Rapunzel, played by Petrina Sheridan.
Her parents King Rupert and Queen Letitia played by Paul Roberts and Mairead Wilson; and Nanny Gladrags is played by Carmel Fanning-Ryan. The three witches Gruesomella, Horiblina, and Pam are played by Mairead McDonnell, Aoife Lally, and Emma Daly. Princes Petulant, Ignorant, Flatulent, and Valiant (can you guess the nice one? ) will be played by Andy Hannon, Edward Scott, Rob Holloway, and Conor Durcan. And let us not forgot Spout played by Sabrina McHugh, Roger (the Donkey ) played by Graham Walsh, and Harold the Herald played by the ever youthful and energetic Lar Davis.
Once again the show will be taking place in the lovely new intimate venue of An Sportlann, MacHale Park, Castlebar. The shows runs until Sunday January 6. Evening shows take place on Friday and Saturday at 7.30pm, with matinee shows on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 2.30pm - with doors opening one hour before each show.
Tickets are available through Ticketmaster or can be bought from Bronntanas, Bridge Street, Castlebar. Tickets are also available on the door. Prices start at €13 for a child, €16 for an adult, or a family of two adults and two children costs €50.
