Irish Repertory Theatre production of Brian Friel's Philadelphia, Here I Come!, the third in the company's Friel Project series, officially opened March 24, and the reviews are rolling in.
The Friel Project sees the Off-Broadway company presenting four of Friel's plays, all set in the fictional Irish town of Ballybeg. Directed by Ciarán O'Reilly, the production will run through May 5 Off-Broadway.
Philadelphia, Here I Come! features Ciaran Byrne (Made By God), Peter Cormican (The Dead, 1904), Terry Donnelly (Two By Synge), Patrick Fitzgerald (Rebel in the Soul), Deirdre Madigan (Coal Country), David McElwee (A Man for All Seasons), Clare O’Malley (Pumpgirl), Ciarán O’Reilly (Juno and the Paycock), Tim Palmer (The Land of Promises), James Russell (A Touch of the Poet), A.J. Shively (A Man of No Importance), and Emmet Earl Smith (A Distinct Society).
Dan Macke (The Butcher Boy) and Polly McKie (The Butcher Boy) serve as understudies.
New York Stage Review (Sandy MacDonald)
New York Stage Review (Roma Torre)
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Playbill will continue to update this list as reviews come in.
Philadelphia, Here I Come! was Friel’s first major success, premiering in 1964 at the Gaiety Theatre Dublin and transferring to Broadway two years later. Set in 1962, the bittersweet comedy revolves around the young Gar O’Donnell on the eve of his departure from Ireland to America.
The production also features scenic design by Charlie Corcoran, costume design by Orla Long, lighting design by Michael Gottlieb, sound design and original music by Ryan Rumery and M. Florian Staab, and properties by Nicole Rozanski. April Ann Kline is the production stage manager, and Jade Doina is the stage manager.
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