Philadelphia Here I Come!
Encyclopedia
Philadelphia, Here I Come! is a 1964 play by Irish dramatist Brian Friel
. Set in the fictional town of Ballybeg, Co.Donegal, the play launched Friel onto the international stage.
, specifically Philadelphia. The play takes place on the night before and morning of Gar's departure to America. Gar is portrayed by two characters, Gar Public ("the Gar that people see, talk to, talk about") and Gar Private ("the unseen man, the man within, the conscience"). Gareth lives with his father,Local shopkeeper, S.B. O'Donnell ("a responsible, respectable citizen") with whom he has never connected. Gar works for his father in his shop and their relationship is no different from that of Boss and Employee. Private often makes fun of S.B. calling him "Screwballs" and parodying his nightly routine as a fashion show.
Essentially, this play is a tragicomedy. It contains many comical scenes, especially the scene with Lizzy Sweeny, Gar's aunt, in which Gar decides to go to America. Despite the fact that Gar seems to have a relationship with his father no different to that of Boss and Employee, there are indications that there is love between them. in episode 1, Madge says "It must have been near daybreak when he (SB O'Donnell) got to sleep last night. I could hear the bed creaking." Other indications that SB is secretly devastated by his son's imminent departure, include his remembrance of Gar in a sailor suit proudly declaring he need not go to school, he'll work in his fathers shop - a memory of an event that may not have happened, and the scene when he pretends to read the paper, but fails to notice that it has been upside-down.
Gar's reasons for going to America (he wanted to prove to Aunt Lizzie that he was not "cold like the O'Donnells"), along with his secret love for his uncommunicative father, and their desperate final, pathetic attempts to communicate make this play quite tragic.
All of the action in this play takes place within a period of a few hours on the evening of Gar's departure, but it also includes flashbacks to Gar's relationship with local girl Kate Doogan, and the visit from his Aunt Lizzie
, directed by Adrian Dunbar
and produced by Andrea Montgomery.
Second Age Theatre Company
staged the play in May 2007, directed by Alan Stanford
. This production toured the country, stopping off at Donegal
, Ennis
, Dublin and Cork
as well as New York
, Texas
and California
in the USA. Second Age will present Dancing at Lughnasa in September 2010 at the Helix Theatre, Dublin.
Noel Pearson
recently produced an acclaimed revival of the play at Dublin's Gaiety Theatre
.
The play, like Friel's Dancing at Lughnasa, is on the syllabus for English Higher Level and Ordinary Level for the Irish Leaving Certificate examinations.
and stars Donal McCann
and Des Cave.
Brian Friel
Brian Friel is an Irish dramatist, author and director of the Field Day Theatre Company. He is considered to be the greatest living English-language dramatist, hailed by the English-speaking world as an "Irish Chekhov" and "the universally accented voice of Ireland"...
. Set in the fictional town of Ballybeg, Co.Donegal, the play launched Friel onto the international stage.
Plot
Philadelphia, Here I Come! centres around a Gareth (Gar) O'Donnell, and his intended move to AmericaUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, specifically Philadelphia. The play takes place on the night before and morning of Gar's departure to America. Gar is portrayed by two characters, Gar Public ("the Gar that people see, talk to, talk about") and Gar Private ("the unseen man, the man within, the conscience"). Gareth lives with his father,Local shopkeeper, S.B. O'Donnell ("a responsible, respectable citizen") with whom he has never connected. Gar works for his father in his shop and their relationship is no different from that of Boss and Employee. Private often makes fun of S.B. calling him "Screwballs" and parodying his nightly routine as a fashion show.
Essentially, this play is a tragicomedy. It contains many comical scenes, especially the scene with Lizzy Sweeny, Gar's aunt, in which Gar decides to go to America. Despite the fact that Gar seems to have a relationship with his father no different to that of Boss and Employee, there are indications that there is love between them. in episode 1, Madge says "It must have been near daybreak when he (SB O'Donnell) got to sleep last night. I could hear the bed creaking." Other indications that SB is secretly devastated by his son's imminent departure, include his remembrance of Gar in a sailor suit proudly declaring he need not go to school, he'll work in his fathers shop - a memory of an event that may not have happened, and the scene when he pretends to read the paper, but fails to notice that it has been upside-down.
Gar's reasons for going to America (he wanted to prove to Aunt Lizzie that he was not "cold like the O'Donnells"), along with his secret love for his uncommunicative father, and their desperate final, pathetic attempts to communicate make this play quite tragic.
All of the action in this play takes place within a period of a few hours on the evening of Gar's departure, but it also includes flashbacks to Gar's relationship with local girl Kate Doogan, and the visit from his Aunt Lizzie
Productions
In 2003, the play was performed through the Association of Regional Theatres Northern IrelandAssociation of Regional Theatres Northern Ireland
The Association of Regional Theatres, Northern Ireland , founded in 2003, brings together five regional theatres in Northern Ireland to jointly develop productions touring Northern Ireland, and other theatres in the Republic of Ireland and England....
, directed by Adrian Dunbar
Adrian Dunbar
Adrian Dunbar is an actor from Northern Ireland, best known for his television and theatre work. Dunbar co-wrote and starred in the 1991 film, Hear My Song, nominated for Best Original Screenplay at the BAFTA awards.-Personal life:...
and produced by Andrea Montgomery.
Second Age Theatre Company
Second Age Theatre Company
Second Age Theatre Company exists to promote an awareness and love of classical theatre for all, but especially the young.-History of the company:...
staged the play in May 2007, directed by Alan Stanford
Alan Stanford
Alan Stanford is a well known Irish-based actor and director.-Personal life:Stanford has lived in Ireland since 1969. He trained as an actor at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London....
. This production toured the country, stopping off at Donegal
Donegal
Donegal or Donegal Town is a town in County Donegal, Ireland. Its name, which was historically written in English as Dunnagall or Dunagall, translates from Irish as "stronghold of the foreigners" ....
, Ennis
Ennis
Ennis is the county town of Clare in Ireland. Situated on the River Fergus, it lies north of Limerick and south of Galway. Its name is a shortening of the original ....
, Dublin and Cork
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
as well as New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
and California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in the USA. Second Age will present Dancing at Lughnasa in September 2010 at the Helix Theatre, Dublin.
Noel Pearson
Noel Pearson
Noel Pearson is an Aboriginal Australian lawyer, academic, land rights activist and founder of the Cape York Institute for Policy and Leadership, an organisation promoting the economic and social development of Cape York....
recently produced an acclaimed revival of the play at Dublin's Gaiety Theatre
Gaiety Theatre
The Gaiety Theatre is a theatre on South King Street in Dublin, Ireland, off Grafton Street and close to St. Stephen's Green. It specialises in operatic and musical productions, with occasional dramatic shows.-History:Designed by architect C.J...
.
The play, like Friel's Dancing at Lughnasa, is on the syllabus for English Higher Level and Ordinary Level for the Irish Leaving Certificate examinations.
Characters
Below is a list of the characters from the play Philadelphia, Here I Come! along with a cast list from when it was first performed, at the Gaiety Theatre, Dublin, on September 28, 1964.- Public Gareth (Gar) O'Donnell - Patrick Bedford
- Private Gareth (Gar) O'Donnell - Donal DonnellyDonal DonnellyDonal Donnelly was an English-born Irish theatre and film actor. He was born in Bradford, Yorkshire, England, but raised in Dublin, Ireland....
- S.B. "Screwballs" O'Donnell - Eamonn Kelly
- Madge Mulhern - Mairín D. O'Sullivan
- Kate Doogan (later Kate King) - Máire Hastings
- SenatorSeanad ÉireannSeanad Éireann is the upper house of the Oireachtas , which also comprises the President of Ireland and Dáil Éireann . It is commonly called the Seanad or Senate and its members Senators or Seanadóirí . Unlike Dáil Éireann, it is not directly elected but consists of a mixture of members chosen by...
Doogan - Cecil Barror - Con Sweeney - Tom Irwin
- Ben Burton - Michael Mara
- Ned - Eamon MorrisseyEamon Morrissey (actor)Eamon Morrissey is an Irish actor, best known for his comic performances on stage and television.-Early life:An only child, Morrissey was born in Dublin and grew up in the suburb of Ranelagh. His parents encouraged his early interest in stage performance and he won several medals for his...
- Tom - Brendan O'Sullivan
- Joe - Emmet Bergin
Film
The play was made into a film of the same name in 1975. This version was directed by John QuestedJohn Quested
John Quested has been the owner and chairman of Goldcrest Films since the early 90s. He began his career as a third assistant director on The Concrete Jungle in 1960 and has gone on to produce many feature films over the course of his career.-Producer:...
and stars Donal McCann
Donal McCann
Donal McCann was an Irish stage, film, and television actor best known for his roles in the works of Brian Friel and for his lead role in John Huston's last film, The Dead.-Early life:...
and Des Cave.