Review
of Williams Camp, July 2005
Once again this year, everyone came together in the Lisnaskea camp in Fermanagh
to celebrate life and music. It was a great celebration for the whole week. This
year was probably one of the busiest years for the Williams campers as we
performed two shows on two separate nights. Energy levels were low at times but
everybody pushed through to participate in two very memorable shows.
Aim:
Every year is about the campers. Giving them a chance to integrate with people
from all over the country and the world. Teaching them new instruments and
further developing their skills. Helping them develop as people. Making new
friends and learning new things. In general, it's a week of fun and games
enjoyed by all.
Once again, this year, the campers had their choice of music and drama classes
they wished to attend which included voice training, piano lessons, guitar and
drum lessons and group drama classes, all were thoroughly enjoyed by both
teacher and student. Night time entertainment involved a teachers performance
night, which featured farmers who had travelled from all over the country to
take part in the National Irish Farmers Association, Alternative Farming Award
hosted by the lovely 'Hexchange' (Fergal D’Arcy) and 'Johnny Shaft' (John
Mulvihill). We also had a night of photos from previous years projected onto a
big screen, and, as usual, a jammin' session which started and finished every
night no matter what was on in between. Activities were provided each day, for
example, pottery, water sports and foosball. Introduced this year was relaxation
time for the campers where they got a chance to lie down in the evening and
listen to the sounds of the sea, this boosted their energy levels.
The talents and confidence of the campers have grown and developed each year and
this was very evident in the final performance of the week. Everybody pulls
together for one hour each day to prepare for The Wizard of Oz, which was our
chosen musical for this year. The full group rehearsal begins with a warm up led
either by our 'music man' Dave Flynn or the musical director Grainne Madden,
then it's down to business. We had a cowardly Lion afraid of himself, a rusty
Tinman without a heart who needed a little oil, a Scarecrow without a brain and
too much straw and a beautiful Dorothy with her ruby red slippers, which were
snatched by the Wicked Witch who cackled her way on and off the stage. The face
paints and the costumes just added to the talents which the campers and the
helpers produced on the night.
The additional show this year, 'Grease', was organised to showcase the talents
of Emanuela, who had travelled all the way from Italy for her third year running
and who was not going to be with us for the final show. Grease featured, Sandy,
in all her school girl glory, with her posse of 'Pink Ladies' at her side to ooh
and aah at all the 'Cool Dudes' led by Danny, her summer love. We had singing,
dancing, giggling girls, macho men and, to top it all off, the fastest car chase
you've ever seen.
Highlights:
* Mr. Guitar Man, Harm Petter, came all the way from Holland once again to join
us. His unbelievable musical talents kept everyone entertained day and night. We
have yet to find a song that he doesn't know. Harm played the part of the Wizard
in the musical and sang about those horrible little creatures 'The Jitterbugs'.
*
Brian Ahern, our Cork man, joined us during the week and went straight to the
drums. He has fantastic rhythm and it sounds like he's been practicing. Brian
plays the piano with such grace and ease. He can silence a room within a few
seconds. He was our cowardly Lion who didn't want to count sheep to help him
fall asleep because he was too scared of them.
* Alan was our Scarecrow who was missing a brain. His character was very
entertaining. Alan is our sports fanatic on the camp, always good for a kick
around.
* Our dancing Tinman was played by Jarlath. He loves to sing and dance and was a
great entertainer for the week.
* Patricia, or Dorothy, as she was referred to for the week, took our breath
away as she opened the show with the song “Somewhere over the Rainbow”. I've
never heard it sung so beautifully or sweetly before.
* Emanuela and Rosie, two of our foreign delegates, were never off the dance
floor and burst into song at every opportunity.
* Sighile and Donal were our stars in Grease. Their powerful voices carried
through the large room and it was enjoyed by all.
* Fiona and Karen are always good for a song or a chat, and they certainly would
never pass up a sing along at the dinner table.
All in all the week was a great success. Keady catering fed us all hours of the
day and night as Ann Breen marched around, with the official 'business
clipboard', making sure everything was up to the standard expected. Thanks to
Ann the week ran very smoothly with no hitches. There were a lot of tears in the
end, but we all know that we'll see each other again next year.
Grainne Madden
Musical Director
July 2005
Back
to Top
Williams Syndrome Association of Ireland 
