Standing Room Only at Sellout Revue
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FRANK TALBOT and Brigid O'Shea onstage at the production of Gortnamona: The Life and Times of Percy French presented at the PAL Theatre in downtown Vancouver. |
By LAURIE MACKENZIE
VANCOUVER - "My grandfather used to know Percy French;" "My uncle was best friends with Percy;" and so the stories came out, swallowtail coats and all!
The crowd drove in from as far away as White Rock, excited to share in the rousing and heartwarming production of Gortnamona, The Life and Times of Percy French (William Percival French, 1854 -1920) on March 8 at the PAL Vancouver Theatre in downtown Vancouver.
"The room was completely packed" said front of house manager Moira Talbot, "we had to scramble around finding chairs for people at the last minute just to fit them all in."
Despite the makeshift arrangements, the audience was eager and all eyes were on the stage: right from the start the talented troop from CTC Calgary had the crowd singing along to a medley of favorites such as Are Ye Right There Michael? and The Mountains of Mourne.
Before long, toes were tapping, hands were clapping and all joined in for the grand finale sing-along with the cast and for a hearty standing ovation for the nine fine performers and volunteer crew.
Just as with anyone's life story, however, there were deeply moving moments. The Emigrant's Letter and An Irish Mother were framed by some history of the Famine and struck a reverent chord among those gathered from the Irish Heritage Society, the Irish Women's Network, the Ireland Monument Committee, to name but a few.
But the solemn notes just made more room for greater rejoicing in the silly antics of Abdul Abulbul Amir and Phil the Fluther's Ball and, for an extra playful treat, some authentic Irish hard-shoe, as likely as you'd catch at any crossroads - the real stuff.
The PAL Vancouver Community Workshop Project sincerely thanks: Urban Fare, Coal Harbour, for catering the wrap party; Big Wave Design and Greystone Graphics; and, once again, for all the support of the Irish societies and social clubs who came out in force for a fine evening.
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