NOW PLAYING: Denver Victorian Playhouse's THE FIELD

The Denver Victorian Playhouse continues their 2010-2011 Irish season with the Regional Premiere of The Field by Award-winning Irish playwright John B. Keane. 'Bull' McCabe is a tenant farmer with an obsession with the field he has been renting from a poor widow. After years of backbreaking toil, McCabe has transformed the field from three acres of rocky wasteland into a lush green pasture. But when the widow decides to put the property up for auction without considering his work, an outraged McCabe is determined to buy it at all costs. Unfortunately, there is another interested party, an American whose plans for the field include paving it over to provide access to the limestone-rich hills beyond.

The stellar cast includes Jim Hunt ("Bull" McCabe), Abraham Willock (Tadgh McCabe), Josh Hartwell (Bird O' Donnell), Kendra Crain (Mrs. McCabe), Tim Fishbaugh (Dandy McCabe), Steve Kramer (Mick Flanagan), Paige L. Larson (Maimie Flanagan), Cody Robinson (Leamy Flanagan), Chip Winn Wells (Maggie Butler), Brian Landis Folkins (William Dee), Tyler Collins (Father Murphy), Eric Ross (Sergeant Leahy), Ayden Armstrong (Aoife Flanagan) and Branwen Armstrong (Nelly Flanagan).
 
John B. Keane based the story on the 1959 murder of Moss Moore, a bachelor farmer living in Reamore, County Kerry . Dan Foley, a neighbor with whom Moore had a long-running dispute, was suspected of the murder, but the charges were denied by Foley's family.  

John B. Keane was an Honorary Life Member of the Royal Dublin Society from 1991, served as president of Irish PEN and was a founder member of the Society of Irish Playwrights and a member of Aosdána. He remained a prominent member of the Fine Gael party throughout his life, never being shy of political debate.  In his life, Keane published 46 works. He died at his home in Listowel in 2002 at age 73. In 2007 a life-size bronze statue by Clare sculptor Seamus Connolly to Keane was erected in his beloved Listowel during Writers week.

The Field is currently playing now through April 2nd and plays Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.; Sundays at 2 p.m.  For tickets or more information call the box office at 303-433-4343 or visit the Denver Victorian Playhouse online at www.denvervic.com.

Photo Credit: Michael Ensminger