Lime Tree will delight and entertain Limerick families this Christmas with its own professional Panto. Aladdin and his Magic Lamp, written by Mike Finn and directed by Michael Finneran will run for 34 shows from Friday December 8. Limerick Post chatted to Stephen O’Riain who has returned from London to play the role of Abanazer.
As well as bringing all the kids together this Christmas, Aladdin & His Magic Lamp will bring a cast of old friends back together, professional actors who grew up with the magic of Panto in Limerick over 20 years ago.
Joining Aidan Crowe as Widow Twanky and Jessica Bray as Genie is Cora Fenton as the Sultana, Stephen O’Riain as Abanazer, Eoghan Cantillon-Mann as Aladdin, Aoife Hennessy as Jasmine, Eleanor O’Brien as Mini and James Corr as Christy.
Limerick Post chatted with Stephen O’Riain this week who returns from the UK to his Limerick home to take on the role of the evil Abanazer.
He says, “It’s nice to be back working with my friends. I have known these people for over 20 years now. So it’s nice to be in the rehearsal room again with my pals.”
Stephen, whose family are steeped in music and theatre, left Limerick at the age of 19 going straight to London to study drama at Mountview Drama School for three years.
From performing at Edinburgh Fringe Festival through to touring the UK with The Commitments Musical, Stephen has had a very busy schedule. In 2019 he secured a place on the Tony, Grammy and Olivier Award-Winning Jersey Boys Musical which took him on UK tours to a stint at Dublin’s Bord Gais Theatre.
He took up an opportunity to tour with the Jersey Boys Musical on the Norwegian Cruise Line which took O’Riain across the world.
Being on such a big ship, the cast performed twice a day for two days a week, sharing the stage on alternative days with Six The Musical.
“We were lucky that we had downtimes and we were able to get off the ship and explore.”
That meant getting to explore Alaska, trying dog sledding, helicopter tours to see glaciers and in sunnier locations, getting to enjoy time on the beach in Mexico.
“We were very, very lucky.”
Stephen has played in Pantos in the UK, but his relationship with the craft goes right back to his childhood in Limerick.
“My whole family has been involved in pantos since I was a kid”.
Stephen’s father is Richie Ryan, well known in the city for his work in teaching music and theatre with CentreStage Theatre School.
“We were doing the pantos every year from when I was maybe 10 or 11 up until I was maybe 16, 17. So, pantos were a staple in our family. My mum Susan would choreograph, my dad Richie would direct. My brother Conor and sister Kate and all the kids from Center Stage would be in it.”
“20 years ago, to this day, we did Aladdin for the first time and I was playing Aladdin.
“Aiden Crowe was playing my brother Christie who’s now playing The Dame, Widow Twanky. Jessica was playing Mini, who is now playing The Genie.
“So you know we’re all back again, but just playing different parts. It was always a lot of fun back in the day at Belltable.”
Stephen is taking on the role of Abanazer this time around.
““Abanazer is the evil sidekick to the Sultana, he is kind of the adviser to the Sultana but what he wants deep down is to take over the kingdom and to do that he has to marry Jasmine.”
Are you ready to be the bad guy?
“I can’t wait. It’s not something I’ve done before. So I’m very excited to get up and do it for the first time. Because you are known as the bad guy. You can just do what you want. You don’t have to be nice.”
Is this panto very different from your experience in the UK?
“It’s so much funnier. I find that especially because it’s written by Mike Finn, the jokes just land so well and the writing is so good.
Mike Finn is joined by a stellar creative team, Michael Finneran (Director), Noel Lennon (Music Director), Pamela McGlynn (Choreographer), and Jean McGlynn (Production Designer).
Stephen O’Riain is looking forward to seeing old friends from Limerick in the audience over the next four weeks.
“I have a lot of messages from my family and friends who have young kids messaging me to say that they’ve booked tickets to come.
What are you excited for in this production?
“This Panto I think it’s going to be a really special one. I think it’s going to be visually stunning and there are some really great songs in there.
“Aidan obviously is going to knock the house down with his Dame performance.
“And, you know, once again, I’m absolutely delighted, like I’m so over the moon to be able to do this and to be home for Christmas.”
