Women of Ireland

On March 17, those celebrating the patron saint Patrick had a couple of obligations: rummage through the cupboards for some Shamrock Green food coloring and make a pilgrimage to Popejoy Hall to see the Women of Ireland performance. Lucky for Albuquerque, the show’s tour landed here on St. Patrick’s Day as the troupe makes their way through Europe, North America, Asia and Australia.

With two dozen tracks over two acts, the pageant runs the gamut of beloved Irish entertainment. The cast includes three principal vocalists, a seven-piece band, a gaggle of dancers and an aerialist. The stage gets bogged down at times. Figuring out where to place your attention is a bit like searching for a four-leaf clover. Fortunately, the changes are frequent so when performers are not popping in and out of a song, there are breathing spaces where individuality can shine.

Some of the better moments are when the music and vocals aren’t competing for the loudest mix. The trio front act, Karen Tynan, Sarah Vaughan and Una Pedreschi, deliver harmonies that rival their ever-changing matching gowns but the singers are often drowned out by the rich backing track. During solos, Taylor Rowland climbs silks and harnesses demonstrating perfect splits—but with all eyes on her daring acrobatics, the vocalist is nearly muted.

Fiddle player Lotta Virkkunen is vigorous and clearly a top talent. She stays true to the jigs and polkas but strings of bluegrass and jazz bow out to testify to her versatility. Bellow instruments should probably only be played outdoors, so when the uilleann pipe player takes a chair at the front of the stage, he’s rightfully only accompanied by projected images of the crashing sea and high cliffs towering above rugged Irish beaches.

Choreographer and Riverdance alumni Anthony Fallon gives tons of authenticity to the stepdancing. His audience engagement is infectious, and as the evening’s special guest he receives the loudest applause for his perfunctory footwork. Renditions of “These Flags We Raise” and “Danny Boy” bring sentimental flashes of wistful contentment. And just when a thought of moving to Ireland comes to mind, the “God Bless America” encore brings everyone back to reality and contemplating a pint of green beer instead.

Though tattered on the edges in some places, all-in-all, Women of Ireland fits a niche and stays true to the time-honored Celtic love of performing.

On assignment for ABQToDo.