Page 83 - The Gonzaga Record 1985
P. 83
stop there: though many other matters daubed by some thoughtful member of the
called for his attention, he never failed to stage crew from the reddened ear of
play in the school championship, putting his Stephen Buckley, alias Colonel Bagarov.
not inconsiderable skill on the line against But there were enjoyable moments, too;
all and sundry, and thus epitomising the as when the Chorus gave such splendid
egalitarian nature of this most remarkable renderings of 'Yesterday' and 'Bridge over
of games. Long may it flourish in Gonzaga. Troubled Waters' with Mr Murphy on
keyboards.
List of School Champions: On the Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
1978 John Waldron (S. 2) evengings of the Opera everything seemed
1979 Denis Cusack to flow rather well, especially the (water-
1980 John Waldron (S. 4) based) paint.
1981 Denis Cusack The orchestra, which included many
1982 John Waldron (S. 6) Gonzaga students and Mr Murphy's wife
1983 David Murray (with one eye on Dad and the other on her
1984 Denis Cusack lads Cabal and David) was in fine fettle ,
and the audience seemed relaxed and
G. Murphy enjoying the evening. The chorus, though,
had some difficult times ofT-stage , in the
Editor's Note: He won't say it himself; but sub-zero temperatures of the lunch-room,
without Gerry Murphy there would been no while the audience sat resplendent in sheep-
chess in Gonzaga. The 1978 win at skins and furs! This year's opera, Mine is
Castlebar, for instance, was his. the Kingdom is the fifth and final opera of
the G.M. cycle. Remember: A Spy in the
Oinment; A Dog in the hand; Aghast at the
Wedding; Double Check; Mine is the
OPERA
Kingdom'? The affairs of the Balkan
kingdom of Morania were indeed in a pretty
'Should Gonzaga re-open after Christmas mess, but surprise, surprise all turns out
there will be inevitably an opera, composed,
produced, and directed by Mr G. Murphy.' well in the end.
The quality of the performances and the
When, among the mid-December roars quiet efficiency backstage are a measure of
of the Senior Rugby trainers during the the esteem in which Mr Murphy is held by
notorious pre-match pep talks, one can hear the boys. Long ago they have learned to
in the background the tinkling of ivories, interpret outbursts, such as greeted Noel
and the falsetto giggles of the chorus line, MacMahon's fluffed lines : 'this is definitely
one realises that once again the Great
Gonzaga Opera Society is grinding into THE LAST BLOOMING OPERA.'
Quod dixi , dixi ' Sir? This is one of
motion. Murphy's laws that is made to be broken.
No one could envy Mr Murphy (music
teacher Cinder alia!) the task he sets himself
each year of gently moulding the Principals,
threatening the Senior Chorus, and Dramatis Personae
hammering the Junior Chorus into shape
once again. There were intensive rehearsals King George of Morania: J.
during the Christmas holidays, and O'Callaghan:
gradually the pieces began to slot Queen Mathilde: Katherine Finn:
together. . . almost! The problems were King Basil of Bragadocia: I. Larkin;
mostly minor ones, such as persuading the Colonel Bagarov: S. Buckley ;
Junior Chorus to sing; duping Jim Matyas Mayor: D. Walsh:
O'Callaghan (King of Maronia) into Janos Torot: E. Moyles;
arriving at rehearsals in time; removing the Bela Torot: M. Guiney:
paint with which the telephone had been Katherina: Siobhan Gaynor:
75
called for his attention, he never failed to stage crew from the reddened ear of
play in the school championship, putting his Stephen Buckley, alias Colonel Bagarov.
not inconsiderable skill on the line against But there were enjoyable moments, too;
all and sundry, and thus epitomising the as when the Chorus gave such splendid
egalitarian nature of this most remarkable renderings of 'Yesterday' and 'Bridge over
of games. Long may it flourish in Gonzaga. Troubled Waters' with Mr Murphy on
keyboards.
List of School Champions: On the Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
1978 John Waldron (S. 2) evengings of the Opera everything seemed
1979 Denis Cusack to flow rather well, especially the (water-
1980 John Waldron (S. 4) based) paint.
1981 Denis Cusack The orchestra, which included many
1982 John Waldron (S. 6) Gonzaga students and Mr Murphy's wife
1983 David Murray (with one eye on Dad and the other on her
1984 Denis Cusack lads Cabal and David) was in fine fettle ,
and the audience seemed relaxed and
G. Murphy enjoying the evening. The chorus, though,
had some difficult times ofT-stage , in the
Editor's Note: He won't say it himself; but sub-zero temperatures of the lunch-room,
without Gerry Murphy there would been no while the audience sat resplendent in sheep-
chess in Gonzaga. The 1978 win at skins and furs! This year's opera, Mine is
Castlebar, for instance, was his. the Kingdom is the fifth and final opera of
the G.M. cycle. Remember: A Spy in the
Oinment; A Dog in the hand; Aghast at the
Wedding; Double Check; Mine is the
OPERA
Kingdom'? The affairs of the Balkan
kingdom of Morania were indeed in a pretty
'Should Gonzaga re-open after Christmas mess, but surprise, surprise all turns out
there will be inevitably an opera, composed,
produced, and directed by Mr G. Murphy.' well in the end.
The quality of the performances and the
When, among the mid-December roars quiet efficiency backstage are a measure of
of the Senior Rugby trainers during the the esteem in which Mr Murphy is held by
notorious pre-match pep talks, one can hear the boys. Long ago they have learned to
in the background the tinkling of ivories, interpret outbursts, such as greeted Noel
and the falsetto giggles of the chorus line, MacMahon's fluffed lines : 'this is definitely
one realises that once again the Great
Gonzaga Opera Society is grinding into THE LAST BLOOMING OPERA.'
Quod dixi , dixi ' Sir? This is one of
motion. Murphy's laws that is made to be broken.
No one could envy Mr Murphy (music
teacher Cinder alia!) the task he sets himself
each year of gently moulding the Principals,
threatening the Senior Chorus, and Dramatis Personae
hammering the Junior Chorus into shape
once again. There were intensive rehearsals King George of Morania: J.
during the Christmas holidays, and O'Callaghan:
gradually the pieces began to slot Queen Mathilde: Katherine Finn:
together. . . almost! The problems were King Basil of Bragadocia: I. Larkin;
mostly minor ones, such as persuading the Colonel Bagarov: S. Buckley ;
Junior Chorus to sing; duping Jim Matyas Mayor: D. Walsh:
O'Callaghan (King of Maronia) into Janos Torot: E. Moyles;
arriving at rehearsals in time; removing the Bela Torot: M. Guiney:
paint with which the telephone had been Katherina: Siobhan Gaynor:
75
