The Mad Raven Monologues
Episode 13 - Kamiano
Back in the nineties Shaun was commissioned to write a musical on the life of Damien de Vesteur, the leper priest. Some of you of a certain age may admit to remembering the story from your school days.
The production toured counties in the east of the country with a cast of a couple of hundred The following year Shaun staged a professional production in Dublin. Shaun doesn't mind admitting that the content story line set on the leper island of Molokai, wasn't to everyone’s taste.
However he has reprised much of the musical content in formats over the years . Here Katelyn Ressler performs the following piece adapted from the musical. Mila, struck down by leprosy is banished to Molokai. It is an heroic story of spiritual strength, resignation and the power of love beautifully imagined by Katelyn.
Episode 12 - I am woman
This is another piece from the musical - The Raven Beckons.
This Shaun Purcell musical explored how a father's ambition and lack of awareness of the needs of his wife and family, ended in tragedy.
Here Vanessa Byrne wonderfully re enacts the role of Vicky which she played to great acclaim in the Hawkswell production of the show in 2017. Vicky, reflects on her love for Gary, her husband, how the love story began and how it has soured. She now must look after herself.
This time Vanessa gives a much rawer performance of ''I am a Woman'' which was a core song in the musical and is now interlaced with the developing monologue detailing the love that originally bound them together and is now rendered apart.
Episode 11 - Sing me a Song
This week's monologue is inspired by a song Shaun wrote for his eldest girl nearly forty years ago . The piece explores how in the blink of an eye our children grow up without it registering with us.
One minute they're wearing mammy's shoes and the next they're in their own heels. However it is less about nostalgia and more of a celebration of having got them this far.
After all , our children, in truth, pass through us. '' Sing me a song '' has been performed many times over the years from national radio to gatherings of family and friends.
It was also used in 'Requiem for Julie', one of Shaun’s most staged musicals.
It tells it's own story and is arranged and performed here beautifully by Luke Devaney. Brendan Tierney gives a lovely rendition of the monologue.
Episode 10 - The Old Man
There are many people who with age become invisible or we just pass them by because our lives are too cluttered, and they no longer register on our interest gauge.
Shaun has written this piece, based on a composite of a number of characters that can be seen in any of our towns if we look hard enough.
Michael Fox sensitively reveals the character's dreams and thoughts for us and the song is performed by the wonderful Eoin Troy and Aileen Concannon.
Episode 9 - The Rock and the Dreamer
This week we present an original piece from Shaun in honour of all parents.
The piece is wonderfully narrated and sung by Shaun Purcell with a beautiful accompaniment by Emma Purcell
It celebrates the journey a family travels and the choices that are made to get to their destination. Places and place names form an inspirational backdrop to the journey, a journey that can be literal or metaphorical.
Despite the focus on rearing the family and providing the best for them, the love of the Mam and Dad for each other and the values they imbue is the inspiration that nurtures the children and wraps them in a safe cosy nest. In the end, the family have flown the nest and the mam and dad's choices and decisions are less onerous.
Episode 8 - Requiem for Julie
''Where did we go Wrong??'
This weeks episode, from our Mad Raven Monologue series, come from the hard hitting musical - Requiem for Julie.
It focuses on the familiar sparring between Mam And Dad and their teenage daughter - and the reality and honesty of these challenging relationships is timeless.
Performed by , among others , the Aisling Theatre Company in Dublin in the late 1990, it was last performed in the Hawk's Well Theatre, Sligo by The Mad Ravens It is beautifully performed and interpreted here by Ravens by Elaine O'Gorman and Kevin O'Gorman
Episode 7 - The Ugly Duckling
"I am a Turkey" One of the first pieces of musical theatre that Shaun Purcell wrote was based on the Ugly Duckling story - originally called the Changling.
"I am a Turkey ‘’was taken from this children's musical and is here performed by Shaun and Alex Sharpe from the CD 'Alex Sharpe Sings the Music of Shaun Purcell' and arranged by Kevin O'Loughlin.
Mary Nielsen, one of the maddest Ravens, wonderfully narrates the monologue.
Episode 6 - The Man who Knows
Back in the late nineties, Humphrey Truman, who had written the allegorical tale '' The Man who Knows'', flew from London to meet with Shaun Purcell with a view to making a musical from the book.
Shaun provided the music and the musical was staged in the Tristan bates theatre, a small theatre in the West End and believe it or not, the Purcell room in the south bank.
The musical journey follows the quest of the characters for knowledge and wisdom. One of these characters is a young boy Jaz.
The song is from the show and Shaun has based his monologue on the ambitions of this young boy
The monologue is superbly performed by Finn McDaniel, our youngest Raven and the song is sung by the ubiquitous Mark Kennedy So sit back and listen to Jaz!
Episode 5 - The Moth and the Flame
''The Door Slams Shut''' This piece Is from an earlier Shaun Purcell Musical Called the ‘’Moth and The Flame’’ and first performed by The Churchtown Players Back in The 80s.
It Is informed by the Troubles which provided a backdrop to the political and social scene back then.
The monologue is performed here by Micki Murray , the song is sung by Enya and Laura Curley, with Eddie Mac Farlane, Ken McDonald and Glen Garret in The Band.
Episode 4 - Goodbye my Darling One
Hello all - welcome to another episode of some short monologues that we have recorded over the past while.
This week, Olivia Byrne brings you a beautiful adaptation of a very poignant piece from one of Shaun's musicals, The Ravens Beckons, which was staged in Dublin, the US and of course, in Sligo, in 2017.
Episode 3 - The Boy From the Far Side of the Moon
Hello all, Welcome to another episode of some short monologues that we have recorded over the past while.😀 There is a Micko in every parish! This week, Declan Walsh brings you the GAA diehard Micko - from the musical The Boy From the Far Side of the Moon.
Episode 2 - Another Day Together
Welcome to another episode of some short monologues that we have recorded over the past while. Everyone has heroes. This week, our very own Captain, Shaun Purcell brings you a song called Another Day Together, and short monologue which he wrote for his uncle and aunt- his heroes Please like and share - hope you enjoy!
Episode 1 - The Raven Beckons
Recorded over the past year - this is the first of a number of short monologues taken from the various musical productions from the pen of Shaun Purcell
In this episode, Mark Kennedy brings us a new adaptation of a piece from 'The Ravens Beckons' that was performed in Sligo in 2017
Keep an eye out for more short monologues like this over the next while! Enjoy!