Politics has a way of throwing up unusual arrangements and agreements and has done so since the beginning of time.
This week, as the Portlaoise Panto gets underway for their production of Sleeping Beauty, there’s an on-stage marriage that also happens to be a big local political rivalry.
Labour councillor Noel Tuohy, a long-time on stage favourite in the popular Portlaoise pantos, plays the role of King Jonathan where his character is married to Queen Linda, who happens to be none other than one of his local election rivals, Thomasina Connell of Fine Gael.
Those rivalries will be put aside for the next week or so but as soon as the curtain comes down you can expect them to be back in election mode ahead of the Local Elections on Friday, May 24.
Rehearsals for what is Portlaoise Pantomine’s Group 35th production have been underway for the past couple of months under the guidance of scriptwriter Peter Kennedy, musical director Niall Pulpeter and choreographer Julieanne McNamara.
Among the other characters are Princess Beauty (Aisling Kelly) Prince Nicky (Andrew O’Conno,r) Nanny Annie Cranny – Dame (Damien Halpin Lee), Sir Philip (PJ Mulhall), Uncle Louie (Christy Bannon), The Wicked Queen Dana of Derry (Vikki Byrne), Penny Dreadful (Ciara Dollard), Dopey Dave (Donal Brennan), Jill (Veronica Lanham) and Egbert (Stephen Keegan).
Sleeping Beauty runs from Saturday, January 19, to Saturday, January 26, with matinees on Saturday 19th, Sunday 20th, and Saturday 26th at 2.30pm (sharp) and nightly at 8pm in the Dunamaise Arts Centre.
Tickets are available from the Dunamaise Box Office visit www.dunamaise.ie or phone 057 8663355.
SEE ALSO – Last five years have been most difficult says long-serving local councillor as housing crisis deepens
