Six thousand Longford panto goers savour the magical world of 'Rapunzel and Billy'

Longford was treated to another amazing Panto production recently when Rapunzel and Billy was staged in St Mel's College, with a total of fifteen performances and over 6,000 attendees.

The production brought together an extremely talented cast and a delightful script that kept audiences of all ages thoroughly entertained. From the opening number the vibrant sets and colorful costumes transported you into a magical world.

The attention to detail in the production design was impressive and complemented the lively performances.

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The energy in the venue was incredible with many kids there to see their hero Billy.

The cast was exceptional, led by Billy (Damien Douglas). The singing, dancing and comedic timing had the audience in stitches.

The role of 'Rapunzel' was played brilliantly by Ardagh native Aishling Farrell. 'Fairy Nuff' was shared by locals Niamh O'Brien and Aoibhínn Macken, 'Horribella' was played by Jenny McCabe, who was making her Longford Panto debut.

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The hilarious 'Nanny Nonie' was played by the footloose and fancy free Davy Flaherty.

Jordan Bass returned to Longford to play the rather handsome 'Finn Strider', Liam Egan also made his Longford debut playing the very entertaining King Henry. Iarlaith O'Rourke and Conor McLoughlin have been in all the Longford Panto Productions to date and this time they played Narrator (Iarlaith) and Bodyguard (Conor).

The interactions with the audience, a hallmark of panto tradition, were particularly enjoyable, as they encouraged participation and created a sense of community in the venue.

The storyline, while familiar, was infused with fresh humor and clever twists that kept it engaging.

The script by director Pat McElwain, cleverly incorporated contemporary references, making it relatable for both younger and older audience members.

The mix of classic panto elements, such as slapstick comedy and audience participation, created a delightful atmosphere that had everyone laughing and cheering.

Musical numbers were a highlight of the evening, with catchy songs that had the audience tapping their feet and singing along.

The choreography was very lively with 95 members of Evolution Stage School performing over the 15 shows.

It was evident that a lot of hard work had gone into rehearsals, and the result was a polished performance that flowed seamlessly.

The production team Tracey Carty, Paul Hennessy and Gerry McCann (TPG Productions) would like to thank everyone for their support and look forward to welcoming audiences next December to 'Cinderella and Billy'.

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