CST Welcomes Druid With THE WALWORTH FARCE 10/28 Thru 11/1

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) welcomes Druid, one of Ireland's premier theater companies, with their production of The Walworth Farce. Critics world-wide have hailed Enda Walsh's tragic comedy in which Dinny and his two sons have been performing a farce rationalizing the violent circumstances which drove them to London, until one day when both their lives and the farce fall apart. This farce within a tragedy garnered a Fringe First Award at Edinburgh in 2007.

After playing to sold-out houses at London's National Theatre, Druid, one of Ireland's premier theater companies, makes its Chicago debut with this celebrated production. Complete with rapid costume changes, cross-dressing, and mistaken identities, this biting social commentary disguised as a traditional high farce comes to Chicago for six performances only.

It's 11 o'clock in the morning in a council flat on the Walworth Road in London. In two hours time, as is normal, three Irish men will have consumed six cans of Harp, fifteen crackers with spreadable cheese, ten pink biscuit wafers and one oven cooked chicken with a strange blue sauce. In two hours time, as is normal, five people will have been killed.

This remarkable play by Enda Walsh combines hilarious moments with shocking realism as it delivers an achingly tender insight into what happens when we become stuck in the stories we tell ourselves about our lives.

The gradual discovery of the rules of the game played by this father and his two young adult sons, the revelation of the significance of the objects and events they act out, and the reasons for their lives of agoraphobic seclusion are among the pleasures of the Druid Theatre production.

The Walworth Farce runs October 28 to November 1, 2009. Shows from Wednesday, October 28 to Friday, October 30 will play at 7:30pm. Shows on Saturday, October 30 are at 2:00pm and 7:30pm. The show on Sunday, November 1 will be at 2:00pm.

The Walworth Farce plays at Upstairs at Chicago Shakespeare, the Chicago Shakespeare Theater, at 800 E Grand Avenue.

Tickets cost $46 and $56. For tickets and more information, visit the website at www.chicagoshakes.com or call 312.595.5600. For group sales, call 312.595.5678.

Photo Credit: David Eden Productions

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