LIMERICK Musical Society strengthened its regard for West End standards when it landed Paul Monaghan to play the bonkers Major General in The Pirates of Penzance. A young veteran of UK’s biggest musical shows, the 40-something Dubliner was cast as the original Phantom in the 1st tour of Lloyd Webber’s show. The role was his for seven years. He recently played to 40,000 capacity in London’s O2 for the 25th anniversary Les Miserables concert each night.
Paul Monaghan is also Colin Farrell’s uncle but surely, led the family way to acting success, having trained for years with Veronica Dunne (“one of the best voice tutors in Europe”) and academies such as Guildhall. A move to London for six months with Les Miserables has seen him based there almost since.
The Priates of Penzance, a Gilbert & Sullivan operetta, is scheduled for the concert hall from Thursday March 31 to April 2, 8pm. Its professional line up of leads features Judy O’Connor (Spotlight Stage School), Nigel Dugdale, Jean Wallace, Martin McNeilus and Conor J Ryan.
Limerick saw Paul first last year when FAME – The Musical toured; remember Mr Sheinkopf? Paul stayed with his old pal, CentreStage’s Richie Ryan, artistic director of LMS.
“I had played the role of the Major General about 10 years in ‘The New Pirates of Penzance.’ That was a reworking of the show by Joseph Papp who is famous for his ‘Shakespeare in the Park’ series in Central Park, New York. He came up with the idea of adapting the work and New Pirates of Penzance was a massive hit, a much funnier show”.
With Limerick Musical Society, Paul relishes the role: “The Major is goofy, fun, very creative. He has much verve as a character – I’ve got a patter with songs. And he is a busy man [ha, ha], I have lots of daughters, about 20 odd. In Pirates, we are working the stage very intensely, principals and ensemble players together”:
“I know the kings of England, and I quote the fights historical/ From Marathon to Waterloo, in order categorical”
Paul Monaghan is offered work on a regular basis by Cameron Mackintosh, the biggest producer of work in London. From film to serious theatre to Prom concerts to Chess, Joseph to Sweeney Todd, projects flow. He directs and arranges as well and has plans for a new musical by John Cameron (Alfie, Les Mis), based on 1916.
Tips for survival to young actors? Essentially, “The beauty of it is in making it look easy. You have to to train and train and commit. It’s not an easy profession, spending 70 per cent of the year out work as the ratio of actors to work available is hugely disproportionate.
“Head for London or New York, the hubs for musical theatre.
“Look after yourself. There’s no getting wasted if you are doing eight shows over six days each week. Rehearsals and stage work lead to 12 hour days at least, treat your body as an athlete does”.
And when it’s good, it’s great.
“I have to pinch myself when I think about the people I am working with, talents such as Andrew Lloyd Webber or Cameron Mackintosh and the original writers of shows”.
Book for The Pirates of Penzance on www.uch.ie for March 31 to April 2, 8pm show.
