Photos show that Rathmore panto has lost none of its colour

It may have been three long years since they last graced the stage together as a troupe but class, as they say, is permanent as evidenced by the Marian Players Rathmore Pantomime Group not missing a beat over the weekend when they staged ‘Dame Annie Goes West’.

These were be the group’s first outing since COVID with other shows scheduled at 7:30pm for this Wednesday February 1, Thursday February 2 and Saturday February 4.

A matinee shows will also take place on Sunday, February 5, both at 3pm.

Speaking to The Kerryman on Monday, Brian Hickey said it hadn’t felt like three years away at all as the group slotted back into its roles seamlessly.

“It was a big success. It felt good coming back into it. It’s a very colourful show and the music is good. It’s lively too and everyone - adults especially - is going to be familiar with all the songs in there because they are all old country songs,” he said.

“Saturday night was opening night and I can’t remember the exact number that we had for it but I think it was over 200 people in the audience which is really fantastic. Honestly then, it didn’t even feel like two or three years since we were last on stage. A lot of people we met over the weekend, you wouldn’t have met them since before COVID so it was wonderful to see them again,” Brian continued.

Brian said last week too that the group had great craic rehearsing over the winter.

“Most everybody in the group has been there before and it was just nice to be able to gather again. It shortened the winter for a lot of people, just being able to meet people during the rehearsals and what not,” he said.

Brian said that with regards to choosing what play to stage, they wanted to do something different this time around.

“Because things are different, we wanted to go with something different after COVID. Instead of going with your traditional ‘Snow White’ and things like that - we’ll get back to them of course - but we just wanted to try something different. So we settled on this western theme and it’s got the usual cowboys, Indians and gunfights at the finish, all the old classics,” he said.

All proceeds from the play will go straight towards the Kerry Parents and Friends charity.

For those interested in popping along to see ‘Dame Annie Goes West’ up close and personal, further details and phone bookings for the show can be done by contacting the booking office on 085 203 1730.

The booking office is open from 2pm to 6pm daily.