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Maurice O’Callaghan clearly relishes a challenge. After a long and varied career including three decades as a lawyer here and in the US, as well as success as a writer and director, the West Cork native is now turning his hand to musical theatre.

While O’Callaghan, originally from Newcestown, has mined his own family history for his films such as 1994’s Broken Harvest, about the aftermath of the Civil War in Ireland, this time around, his inspiration is a ghostly tale from the seaside town of Kinsale. It is an idea that has been percolating for more than four decades, since O’Callaghan was studying law at UCC in the 1970s.

“It was one of the first creative projects I ever wrote but it’s only now, after 40 years and doing a million other things that I finally came around to resurrecting it,” he says.

The musical, The White Lady of Kinsale, is based on the story of Eoghan O’Neill, the sole survivor of the famous Irish O’Neill clan, who falls in love with Wilful Warrender, the daughter of the commander of the English garrison, which is constructed after the Battle of Kinsale in 1601.

“Wilful persuaded her father to allow her marry Eoghan and they had a big wedding. That night, according to legend, while they were walking the battlements she asked him to go down to the seashore to pick some flowers as a wedding gift.

“On his way down, he took the place of a sentry and sent the sentry down instead — but Eoghan had been given a potion by these schemers which made him fall asleep. The girl’s father came out inspecting the posts and found the ‘sentry’ asleep, challenged him and then shot him with a pistol, not realising it was his new son-in-law.

A typical headset, this attaches to a belt pack

Headset

As the name suggests, these are worn on the head, often over the ear, while a discrete arm positions the capsule very close to the mouth. Headsets are especially useful when subjects are in noisy environments or on the move, the mic stays the same distance from the mouth and allows the user to be completely hands-free. Headsets usually use the same beltpack transmitter pack, usually worn on the belt of the subject. They can take some time to set up (making sure they are positioned correctly and look neat, or in some cases, invisible)

Before embarking on your theatrical journey, it’s essential to sit down with those in charge. Schedule a meeting to discuss your ideas for the production, your budget, timelines and any restrictions. Knowing the parameters you’re working within right off the bat will help you avoid problems down the road.

First, decide what type of production you want to have. Will it be a musical? A play? A revue? There are plenty of choices, and it’s best to pick what makes you feel most inspired, as you will be working on this show for weeks. Also, consider the age group of the students. A show like “Rent” is a no-no for your elementary school spring musical. Always clear your choice with your school administrator before moving ahead.

No one is an island, especially when it comes to a show. You will need a team of reliable creatives with whom you can divide the workload. It’s always nice to have a mix of adults, staff and students. Your gathered creative team should include people who will handle:

• Directing
• Choreography
• Music
• Stage managing
• Set design
• Costumes
• Props
• Lighting
• Sound
• Hair/makeup

Put the word out to the student body and request that interested students attend a meeting. Have those who attend fill out a quick survey about what they are interested and where they feel their talents would best serve the production. A word of advice: Avoid filling your entire creative team and backstage crew with senior students only. It’s equally as important to train younger students to ensure the success of future productions.

More later, we have the experience to help. Give us a call to discuss.

Last work before Covid

I heard today that the wedding band organisation are meeting Minister Martin. Many venues are also in trouble financially, especially those that had dept. I know from my own experience that even community buildings that give a great low cost option to shows, concerts and fundraisers, many are parish buildings but run by the local people, are in danger of closing if not allowed to open soon. That will open the way for artists to at least get back and earn a little.
I know of shows that are ready to go, have been postponed, planned and postponed again. Maybe it’s time to try..