by Rose Rushe
THERE isn’t a sinner in Limerick interested in music or theatre who has not heard of Richie Ryan and, most likely, enjoyed a dozen of his productions. Perhaps best known for setting up CentreStage Theatre School, its summer camps and the excellent adult corps, CentreSPACE Players, Richie spent 2012/13 as one of two Association of Irish Musical Societies (AIMS) national adjudicators.
The Limerick director/producer (and gifted singer-actor…I remember him on stage with The Cecilians in Crescent Hall way back when. His was a knock out) is newly appointed to a second year with AIMS.
“The 128 musical societies in the country are divided into Gilbert and Sullivan,” Richie outlines as context. “Where any group falls is according to the number of AIMS nominations they have received in the previous five years, with Gilbert being the upper division. For the past year I have been adjudicating the Sullivan societies and now will move on to adjudicate the Gilberts.”
Where does Limerick sit in this league table? Cecilian Musical Society is in Gilbert, and Limerick Musical Society which was co-founded by Richie was until June.
The rankings ring true to our heartfelt drive for excellence in choral matters and tradition with opera. Ennis and Shannon Musical Societies are currently in Sullivan.
“Oddly, AIMS awards do not count in the ranking,” he adds. “They are considered a bonus and incentive. From my own perspective, it’s a great honour to be selected by AIMS as capable, trustworthy and skilled enough to adjudicate their shows.”
From his briefcase Richie pulls dozens and dozens of colourful catalogues, each a programme detailing ‘Showboat’, ‘Me and My Gal’, ‘West Side Story’ and so on.
What is required of the job? Travelling countrywide, he clocks every production on his list and then compiles a private review running to a strictly sectioned 2,000 word template, ticking boxes along the way according to lead actors, artistic direction and so on.
“The second review is shorter, personal and free ranging. That’s the one published in ShowTimes, the monthly journal of AIMS and it’s very much open to the critic.”
Richie makes the point that the magazine has an avid consumption by societies across the land that follow and support and, yes, compete against each other’s work.
The whole purpose of AIMS is raising standards and “for me, it reiterates the quality of productions happening in every small town and large city in Ireland.”
All with an eye to the annual Ard Fheis in Killarney when the gongs are given – and regularly so to Limerick.
