Mark O'Looney, producer of the new Irish musical Daddy Long Legs, writes for Culture about bringing the acclaimed production online from 8th – 14th March 2021...
"When you get accustomed to people or places or ways of living, and then have them snatched away, it does leave an empty, gnawing sort of sensation." - Jean Webster, Daddy Long Legs
I think we can all relate to that empty sensation over the past few months. For me, it comes at around 7.30 pm every night when I would usually be sitting in a theatre, ideally watching a musical. I’ve been involved in theatre for as long as I can remember, and try to see as many shows as humanly possible each year.
I guess the one positive is I don’t have to wait 10 years to get a ticket to Hamilton because it's now streaming on Disney +.
We have been so lucky to see some of these incredible shows brought to our screens in their original form without the need for stunt casting, which is so often done in movie musicals. It really is astounding that there were people who thought Russell Crowe was a good choice for Les Miserables... but that’s a topic for another day.
Every week there is a new Broadway or West End show being announced, but the one thing I’m really missing is seeing Irish musical theatre talent on stage. Which is why I’m so delighted to be able to bring you an enchanting performance by Eoin Cannon and Róisín Sullivan in Daddy Long Legs.
When we originally staged Daddy Long Legs in Smock Alley in 2018, we knew we had a really stunning piece on our hands that we wanted to share with a wider audience. Luckily, we were able to get a film crew in to film the Saturday matinee, which is what we’re sharing with audiences around the world this March 8th - 14th via Stream Theatre.
The production had a fully Irish cast and crew, and it really is wonderful seeing it get a new life. We were originally hoping to bring it back to a live audience this year, but with the restrictions in place we have to do what is safe for everyone and right now that is staying home (as difficult as that is). Fortunately, we had the 2018 recording, which meant that we were able to get it off the ground a little easier than most.
With the help of Music Theatre International, we contacted the writers and got permission to stream it globally. After that Stream Theatre reviewed it and let us know they were happy to host.
It really is a beautifully captured live performance, warts and all, which to me is the beauty of live theatre. I don’t need a perfectly edited version of a song because that’s not an accurate representation of what theatre is. Theatre is finding yourself so immersed in a show that you forget about your own problems for an hour or so and invest in the fantasy - if you’re anything like me and craving the magic of live theatre, Daddy Long Legs will offer you a much-needed evening of escapism.
Daddy Long Legs is available to stream online from the 8th – 14th March via the Stream Theatre website - tickets are on sale now.
