The Grange Players amateur dramatics group will present Brian Friel’s, “Philadelphia Here I Come!” over three consecutive nights, Friday, March 27 to Sunday, March 29 in The Temperance Hall in Grange (doors open 7pm, curtain up at 8pm).
“Philadelphia Here I Come” is a play set in the 1960’s about finding one’s place in the world, wherever that might be.
Gareth O’Donnell has decided that he does not belong in the backwater town of Ballybeg, Co Donegal, while wasting what is left of his life working for his widowed and sad father.
Gar is determined that his dreams of love and happiness will be fulfilled in America and the play is set on his last night before leaving Ireland.
Gar O’Donnell is portrayed by two characters, “Gar public” the Gar that people see and talk to and “Gar Private”, the man within, Gar’s conscience.
The focus of the play is on the interaction between the public and private personas and initially Gar public is the quiet cautious one. However as the clock ticks and the eleventh hour approaches tensions rise and frustration leaks. What about Gar’s childhood sweetheart? Will his father ever lift out of his depression and communicate with his son?
The tragedy of the play is the repressed emotions and unspoken love, but there are many light comedic moments to bring balance to the play.
The Grange Players have enjoyed preparing this production which is directed by Catherine Siberry. The cast includes Caroline McCarthy, Brian Sheerin, Paddy Davis, Niall Hever, Shauna Hoey, John Kelly, Adrian Devaney, Marie Lowe, Declan Bruen, Sean Nicholson, Joe McGurrin, Kevin Kennedy, Daniel Doherty, and Gerry Sheerin.
The production opens Friday, March 27 and continues on Saturday and Sunday, March 28 & 29. Doors open at 7.30pm with curtain up at 8.00pm. Admission is €10.
Grange Players present Friel play this weekend,
