Jolie meets Christie in Solstice

When Jolie Met Christie, the sell-out show about singer songwriter Christie Hennessy will run at Solstice Arts Centre on 6th October as part of an extensive national tour. Under the guise of broadway entertainer Al Jolson, Aonghus McAnally narrates Christie Hennessy's life story as he delivers poignant renditions of Hennessy classics such as 'Jealous Heart', 'Don't Forget Your Shovel', 'Messenger Boy' and 'Roll Back The Clouds'. The production is written by Cork-born actor, director and playwright, Sean McCarthy. Aonghus McAnally is one of Ireland's best known radio and television performers for over 30 years. A son of the late BAFTA award winning actor Ray McAnally and actress Ronnie Masterson, His career started in the early 1970s as a professional guitar player in the traditional rock group 'Mushroom' and for many years he played with orchestras, dance bands, as well as solo performances. His first television work was as Fergus, The Magic Postman in 'Wanderly Wagon', then in the 1980s it was the Saturday morning children's programme 'Anything Goes'. He was also the host of the hugely successful music game show 'The Lyrics Board'. Aonghus is accompanied on additional vocals and violin by Galway singer, Nuala Ní Chanainn and on keyboard by the show's musical director Ivan McKenna. An axis: Ballymun production, 'When Jolie Met Christie' was written by Seán McCarthy, is directed by Ray Yeates, and designed by artist Robert Ballagh. Lighting design is by Conleth White and costumes are designed by Marie Tierney. Seán McCarthy questions the motivation of great performers and the sacrifices they make to realise their dreams. He explains: "Having the courage to be so open and emotionally honest is something both Christie Hennessy and Al Jolson shared on a deep level. To me, both represent the two faces of show business - the utterly selfless and the completely self-obsessed. Yet their aim was identical - to strike a chord to show the "us" in them and the "them" in "us".