Paddy Noonan Returns To St. Anne's Stage
Mary O' belts out "When New York was Irish!" supported by Brian Moran (left) on Keyboard #1, Jimmy Murphy on drums and Paddy Noonan, on accordion. "Paddy's informality...then magically turns into a highly professional performance!" Photo by Don DePol
Sunday afternoon, November 30 was a momentous time for "Msgr. John's Knights," the featured leader on the McCloskey Auditorium stage: world-famous Irish entertainer/director PADDY NOONAN, and the talented cast of his scintillating stage production, "A Musical Taste Of Ireland."
Paddy's no stranger here. In fact, he lives in Garden City and was the original founder of Rego Records (now the largest producer of Irish recordings in the world) once located here. But, his travels in the U.S and abroad have kept him from directing a show in St. Anne's McCloskey Auditorium in years. At one time, he and a supporting crew were annual stage visitors here at the invitation of one MARY O'GRADY, then Director of St Anne's "Confraternity of Christian Doctrine." Paddy took time out from the show on Sunday afternoon to praise Mary and search in vain for her in the audience from his higher vantage point on the stage.
"A pleasant highlight of the afternoon was the super-smooth performance of famed Irish 'balladeer' Mary O'Dowd's return to the stage after a long absence. She masterfully handled the challenge with her original style renderings of 'I've Got Rings on my fingers...' and 'When New York Was Irish!" Photo by Don DePol
If you didn't know, Paddy's long-lived stage magic rests on informality. His opening moments of a traditional stage tune-up seem like the show is being put together for the first time on stage...and then magically it turns into a highly professional performance. The worrisome diversion on Sunday afternoon was Paddy's opening remark that he had the straps on his accordion changed and that they seemed to be upside down. Straps, up or down, the dire catastrophe ahead never materializes and Paddy never stops smiling.
Among the first performers on stage was a home town Garden City resident, ERIN QUILL, a regular member of Paddy's crew, to whom he refers as "my little Irish gal from Garden City." An Irish-Chinese beauty, Erin smilingly confesses that her eyes seem to grow more round with each performance on Paddy's show. She adds a youthful vigor to the cast in her frisky performance of adapting a centuries-old Irish song to a more modern interpretation of the necessity of getting married. The home town crowd (and especially a front row family cheering section) really loved it!
"Holding things together for Paddy was veteran band leader Tommy Mulvihill (with guitar) his violin, guitar and wonderful stories of his old Irish neighborhood in the Bronx. Photo by Bob McAuliffe.
World-famous comedian EDDIE DEVINE from Glasgow, Scotland--self-described as _half-Irish, half Scottish and 100% hilarious"--more than lives up to his boastful promise and unlike other fast-talking comedians who have visited St Anne's in recent years could be readily understood--a blessing partially made possible by PGK Bob McAuliffe's skilled adjustment of the sound system. Eddie's brilliant jokes with incredible, surprise endings are only surpassed by his accompanying comical facial and body contortions. The latter acrobatics merit at least a "4-Star" human pretzel rating on the performance scale for the colorfully dressed performer.
It was clear from his brilliant performance that BRIAN HUNTER rates as one of the country's better tenors. He completely stunned the audience with his moving version of _Danny Boy" and captured it for certain with his rendition of Lee Greenwood's stirring "God Bless the U.S.A!"... with the entire audience standing and cheering--and singing loud and clear! Leading the stage-cast, he also saluted the pre-Christmas period with a series of well received hymns and carols. Believe me, Brian will be back on stage here, by demand, in years to come.
With Christmas in the air, Paddy invited his daughter, SHEILA from the audience to join the cast. She had been a part of his world-wide stage travels for ten years and left recently to care for a growing family. She sang her beloved Irish hymn, "Our Lady of Knock" to the delight of Paddy and the audience.
A pleasant highlight of the afternoon was the super-smooth performance of famed Irish balladeer MARY O'DOWD, returnimg to the stage after a long absence. She masterfully handled the challenge with her original style renderings of "I've Got Rings on My Fingers'Bells on My Toes" and a rousing "When New York Was Irish!" Mary hasn't lost a step in a brilliant career and should soon be on the way to another album.
Holding things together on stage for Paddy was veteran band leader/singer/raconteur TOMMY MULVIHILL---his violin, guitar and wonderful stories of his old Irish neighborhood in the Bronx. Assisting him and the other performers were BRIAN MORAN on first keyboard, JIMMY KELLY on drums and P.J. CARDINAL on second keyboard.
The outstanding audience reception of the show and strong local support of its ad-filled souvenir program (despite the staggering financial times}, should keep in motion a resurgence of a tradition of popular Irish stage reviews by the Knights in St. Anne's parish in recent years.
It was truly a great day for the "Irish"--a welcoming pastor, _Father John" Gilmartin, Chaplain Rudy Pesongco, Grand Knight BASIL BLISS, Event Chairmen JAY LYNCH &PGK BOB GUIDA and a long list of helpers posted in our Souvenir Program or thanked personally by both Chairmen.
Ironically, one who was most instrumental in bringing back Paddy Noonan to St. Anne's-- JOE HAYES, was unable to attend the affair because of illness. As this goes to press the rewarding news is that Joe is recovering at a fine pace at home. So we dedicate whatever success this show may have been to the fellow who originally led us there with his strong faith and hard work. Welcome back, Joe!
"Msgr. John's Knights" represent Msgr. John C. Seidenschwang Council Knights of Columbus # 11836, Garden City, NY 11530.
