Matinee, Here I Come in Athlone Little Theatre

Athlone Little Theatre has announced that its next play is the Brian Friel classic, 'Philadelphia, Here I Come!’, running from March 9 to 16. For the first time ever there will be a matinee show on Sunday, March 12 at 3pm.

‘Philadelphia, Here I Come!’ is the play which launched Brian Friel onto the international stage back in 1964. Prior to his death in 2015, the Donegal native was considered to one of the best living dramatists in the English language, and had been described as the ‘Irish Chekhov’ or the ‘voice of Ireland’ over the course of his lifetime.

The play, one of his most acclaimed, is a tragicomedy set in the fictional village of Ballybeg, Donegal, the night before, and the morning of, Gar’s departure for Philadelphia. Gar is the son of councillor and shopkeeper S.B. O’Donnell, and is portrayed in the play by two characters – Gar Public (the Gar people see and talk about) and Gar Private (the unseen, the man within). The action takes place in the O’Donnell kitchen and Gar’s bedroom and includes several hilarious flashback episodes involving a talented cast of 14, under the expert direction of Billy Nott.

One of Friel's most popular early works, the play is included in the Leaving Cert English syllabus. It will run in Athlone Little Theatre from March 9 to 16 next at 8pm, with a matinee on Sunday, March 12 at 3pm. Please note there will be no evening performance on Sunday, March 12.

Booking is now open at www.athlonelittletheatre.ie or via the Eventbrite website.

This amateur production of ‘Philadelphia, Here I Come!’ is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals Ltd on behalf of Samuel French Ltd.