Mitchelstown boy hits the big time playing panto giant

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Mitchelstown boy hits the big time playing panto giant

“When I got the call, I was surprised but very excited,” Jack said and Tim added that at that point thirty children had been called back to fill 12 places.

Sandra Quinn

Friday, 20 December 2013
8:10 PM GMT



This Christmas, as other kids are enjoying their Christmas presents, Mitchelstown's Jack Fitzgerald will be getting ready to play the part of the giant in the Everyman Palace panto, Jack and the Beanstalk.

Jack is a fifth class pupil in Ballygiblin NS and he has studied drama under Michael Dennehy and over the past year, he has been taking drama classes with CADA in Glanmire, who have just recently started doing classes in the town hall, here in Mitchelstown.

Jack auditioned for the panto, which runs until January 11, 2014, and he didn't expect to get a part, but was hoping for a part in the chorus at best.

Jack's parents Una and Tim said that from a young age, Jack has always been interested in being on stage and from when he first tried out drama classes, they could see that he just took to it.

While this is one of the biggest productions Jack has been involved in, he was also in two musicals with the Mitchelstown Musical Society, Beauty and the Beast and The Wizard of Oz, which was directed by Catherine Mahon Buckley, who is also directing Jack and the Beanstalk.

After the audition, Tim and Una got a call for Jack to come back in and they thought that he might have been offered a part as one the Dawe family - the family of Jack, who climbs that fateful beanstalk.

"When I got the call, I was surprised but very excited," Jack said and Tim added that at that point thirty children had been called back to fill 12 places.

Then the Dawe family roles were announced and Jack's heart sunk, as he thought there had been a mistake, only to find out that instead he had been assigned the role of the giant.

While some people might not think that Jack is particularly giant-like in stature, he said that there is a great twist in the tale and people will have to come see the show.

Explaining how the show is somewhat in 3D, Jack said that the costumes are amazing and seem to 'jump out at you'.

This has been a big commitment, not only for Jack, but also for his parents, Una and Tim who run Flowers by Una on Lower Cork Street in Mitchelstown.

Jack's school in Ballygiblin have also been very understanding and supportive and just this week, the 5th and 6th class students went to see Jack shine on stage.

Already used to the long hours, learning lines and getting into routines, it seems that little Jack could be a star in the making.

Jack went on stage in front of an audience for the first time just over a week ago for this panto and Una said that they were every bit the proud parents in the theatre.

"We're really proud and I had tears in my eyes when I saw him on stage that first Sunday," Una said.

"I would love to do it again if I could, it's really fun and I've made loads of friends," Jack said.

Once the panto is over, it will be back to the stage again for Jack, as he will be rehearsing for the end of year show with CADA, which involves students from all age groups.

A number of the shows have already sold out, but tickets and more information are available from www.everymancork.com or by calling 021-4501673. Jack Fitzgerald will feature in 12 shows between this Friday, December 20 and January 11, 2014.

He was be on stage in The Everyman in the evening shows on; December 20 and 27 and on January 2, 4 and 11 and he will be performing in matinee productions on December 22, 29 and 31 and on January 2, 4 and 11.

CADA, Christmas, Everyman Palace, Jack and the Giant Beanstalk, Mitchelstown, Panto



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