A wee bit of Ireland in Bothell

  • Sharon Wootton<br>For the Enterprise
  • Monday, March 3, 2008 11:29am

There’s no need to go the long way to Tipperary for Irish entertainment because a bit of Ireland is coming April 7 to Bothell.

“Tony Kenny’s Ireland” is a dancing, singing and storytelling show backed by traditional instruments and led by Kenny, once named Ireland’s Entertainer of the Year.

“The word cabaret is a misnomer for it, really. It’s Irish entertainment, the good things about Irish, the dancing and the songs and the storytelling.”

Kenny’s wife, Joan, is producer of “Tony Kenny’s Ireland,” as well as Jury’s Cabaret in Dublin. His 19-year-old daughter Victoria, who has been dancing since she was age 3, sings and is part of the Dublin City Dancers, trained by her mother.

An Irish storyteller is part of the show and of Ireland’s heritage.

“Rural electricity didn’t come to Ireland until 1940. People had to entertain themselves and everyone does something; you sing, I dance … two or three people tell stories. And Irish storytelling is different. They don’t take themselves seriously. And it’s for the whole family,” Kenny said.

Kenny’s first professional role was the lead in “Jesus Christ Superstar.” He drew protesters with signs such as, “Kenny, go to hell.”

“At the time, Ireland was a very religious country, and ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ had never been performed there. It immediately drew protesters, who presumed that it was disrespectful of Christ, and it wasn’t. But the Vatican radio played the entire ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ album and the protesters vanished the next day.”

Kenny performed in 22 musicals before a six-night-a-week 23-year run with Dublin’s “Jury’s Irish Cabaret,” a run that ended last year. The show once won Ireland’s National Entertainment Awards’ Show of the Year.

Sometimes Kenny misses long-run musical theater performances, “but once I’m on stage and performing, I’m happy.”

When the spring tour ends, Kenny will consider a role in “Man of La Mancha.”

Kenny once said, “I haven’t worked a day in my life.”

“Well, when you enjoy what you do, it doesn’t seem like work. I’m very fortunate to do it on a regular basis. It can be tiring, the hours are long, and the traveling can get to you. But it’s all very enjoyable.”

Go back far enough in Kenny’s career, and a few surprises turn up. His first two singles with the Sands Showband in the late ’60s were covers of “Help Me Rhonda” and “Yummy Yummy Yummy.”

“I was, like, 16, and it was a dance band” said Kenny, who went on to record singles such as “Venus,” “Dance Dance Dance” and “Knock Three Times.”

Although it looked like he was on his way to a successful solo career in England, he walked away and returned to Ireland. Next up was the role of Jesus.

One thing led to another, and now he’s bringing a bit of Ireland to Bothell.

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