PJ here, folks.... Im sharing this piece written by Elmarie from the Artshouse, as a tribute to the late, great Bryan Flynn, who passed away on Friday following a long battle with cancer. El (and her hubby Conor) knew Bryan far better than I did - and this is a beautiful tribute to a gloriously talented & immensely likeable man, whe has been taken from us far, far too soon. May he Rest In Peace. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- There are so many people with whom Im friends here on Facebook who share a collective grief this weekend at the loss of Bryan Flynn. Many of you who worked directly on numerous shows over the years knew him far better and closer than I. So I cannot imagine what it must be like, because I have found it far harder than I ever imagined. Being prepared still didnt leave me prepared. I couldnt write anything the other night. Writing it down meant acknowledging it was real. It happened. And he is gone. Conor knew Bryan long before me. I have spent almost the last 20 years hearing occasional anecdotes about theatre in Waterford and time spent with greats like Ben Hennessy and all the team in Red Kettle. And he told me about this guy Bryan Flynn with Waterford Youth Drama. And I know Conor loved the shows he subsequently worked on with Bryan, from pantos to musicals like The Sound of Music in the Theatre Royal in Waterford & Cork Opera House, to West Side Story & more. Conor often said, just as Trevor noted the other night, how Bryan knew & took the time for every single person backstage and listened to everyone as they asked questions What if I tried this...., or that.......? and he trusted his actors, believed in them and encouraged absolutely everyone. Werent we so lucky Bryan settled in Cork? I liked him enormously from the first time I met him to record the first of our many interviews down through the last few years. Over ten years, I suppose. He always met me with a smile. He was a cheeky, lovable rogue with a pure Waterford sense of humour. But underscoring that lovely personality was this amazing talent. I lost count of the number of times I felt the hairs rise up on the back of my neck at hearing Bryans music. I will never forget one point in the early development stages of Michael Collins. Bryan was rehearsing for a concert performance of some of the works and invited me down to listen to some tracks. As I approached the building I heard the most poignant melody on the uileann pipes floating out through an open window. It literally stopped me in my tracks so I just stood outside and listened through to the finish. I had a lump in my throat as I pushed the door in and I knew he was creating something special. A few seasons later the work was in full rehearsals for the stage show, so prior to its Cork run I called in to interview Bryan and record some clips from the cast. To stand in the centre of the room in Connolly Hall with the chorus singing in full stereo around me is simply a privilege I will always remember. He was a supreme rogue. I never knew him in bad form. He had a gas sense of fun. Who else could team up with Kevin McCormack and conceive numbers like Hosing down the ditches in All Star Wars? I nearly choked laughing at that one! I wont go through all the shows, but have to mention the pantos. How many childhood memories for this generation have been made all the more magical by Bryans sprinkling of genius, mischief and love over the productions he created? Bigger and better year on year, there were no limits because limits were made to be broken. What an incredible partnership between the Opera House and Bryan. They fitted so well together. The fizz and excitement of creation underpinned by ambition, drive, vision and honesty of a truly fabulous team. The Hey! Mr Director! night last year was one never to be forgotten. It was such a special, heartfelt & warmest of Thank Yous from Cork. I was sent an edited clip of Bryan Flynn speaking that night as talked about his love for and relationship with the Cork Opera House. My God was it only a year ago? But even in that year to still produce two more amazing shows like Grease and Aladdin - despite being so ill - was an extraordinary feat. Its not an exaggeration to say it could have taken lesser teams at least a year for each show. Standing in the sun last summer outside Declan Wolfe Stage school to chat about Grease was the last recorded interview I did with Bryan. He was so upbeat. Every single aspect of the production was as important as the next. He enthused about the set design, he hardly drew breath in praise of the cast, he finger-snapped as he hummed some of the big tunes, he laughed as he spoke about the physical demands on the cast to rehearse those high octane dance numbers in the soaring heatwave we were experiencing at the time. He was amazing to watch in rehearsals. I remember another night in Fermoy ahead of a show with the musical society, fiddling with my microphone and checking levels as he danced his way through a routine to illustrate exactly where he wanted the cast members to hit & finish. Where do you get that kind of energy? It doesnt happen very often. A combination like Bryans, of composition, musicianship, choreography, directorial vision-and each to such a high level-is rare. He was so VITAL and full of life that every time I met him I allowed myself to hope. At Christmas I called in to do the usual interviews for the panto. I sat in a room first with Trevor Ryan , Marcus Bale and Velvin Lamont and we chatted about Aladdin. When I went back in to the main rehearsal room Bryan was resting and had closed his eyes. I tiptoed out rather than disturb him. We all know the lives that have been changed and the careers that have been forged as a result of Bryans input. Whether it was back stage or on stage, in one show or all of them, he really and truly was one of those people who made a difference. We will pay tribute properly to Bryan on the arts show when people are more able to talk and share stories. If any of you would like to be involved in such a programme whether to come in to studio, pre record some afternoon with me, do something over the phone if youre not in Ireland, whatever, then Id be very glad, honoured and grateful. Please do email me or send a PM. I cant believe this afternoon were going in to town to say goodbye. Tá sé ráite i gcónaí ach ní raibh sé chomh fíor riamh is atá sé anois: Ní bheidh do leithéid ann arís. Codladh sámh, a Bhrian.
Posted on: Mon, 12 May 2014 11:54:19 +0000
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