On Nov 18th 2009, Ireland's dreams of qualifying for the 2010 World Cup were dashed when France's striker, Thierry Henry, illegally handled the ball to a teammate, setting up a decisive goal that sent France to South Africa, and left Ireland out.
Popular Irish writer Dermot Bolger uses Henry's sleight of hand as a dramatic metaphor for Ireland after the Celtic Tiger-a boom time for the Irish economy at the end of the millennium-and the speedy deception experienced by the Irish people when that boom abruptly collapsed in 2008. An Irish everyman, Eoin reflects on mid-life and Ireland's recent turbulent history with mischievous Dublin wit and sharp home truths. THE PARTING GLASS is a humorous and poignant story of relationships, sport and coming home, and a standalone sequel to Dermot Bolger's internationally acclaimed In High Germany (The Tramway End). Starring Ray Yeates, the play is directed by Mark O'Brien, and production design is by renowned Irish artist Robert Ballagh (Riverdance, In High Germany).
"Warm, funny and extremely moving performance of a man who has to grapple with the meaning of the term ‘home'." -Irish Theater Magazine
"A rare achievement...Actor Ray Yeates delivers this monologue play with verve and excellent comic timing, punctuating pathos with wit, and vice versa...The play makes a variegated and eloquent comment on maleness, friendship and fatherhood..." -Irish Times
THE PARTING GLASS will play July 21, 23, & 24 @ 7pm, July 22 @ 9pm, & July 25 @ 2pm as part of the 4th Annual undergroundzero festival at Performance Space 122 (150 1st Ave at 9th Street). Tickets ($20) may be purchased online at www.PS122.org or by calling 212-352-3101.
AXIS is an arts & community resource center located in Dublin, Ireland. axis is a centre for excellence with the community at its heart, developing new work and programmes as a Production Company and an arts development organization in addition to reaching audiences and participants locally and nationally as a venue and resource center. axis programmes at the point of excellence and inclusion, setting an international standard of multidisciplinary arts practice and arts participation.
DERMOT BOLGER is the author of nine novels including The Journey Home, and his many plays include, The Lament for Arthur Cleary, which received the Samuel Beckett Award for Best Debut Play and an Edinburgh Fringe First Award; Blinded by the Light; In High Germany; The Holy Ground, which also received an Edinburgh Fringe First; April Bright; and The Passion of Jerome. With axis he has created a trilogy of plays both set and performed in the Dublin working class suburb of Ballymun. The first part, From These Green Heights, received the Irish Times/ESB Prize for Best New Irish Play of 2004. The second, The Townlands of Brazil, toured to the National Theatre of Poland, and the finale, The Consequences of Lightning, premiered in 2008.
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