Philadelphia's Inis Nua Theatre Company will present the Philadelphia premiere of Trousers by Paul Meade and David Parnell, running today, February 5-23 at the Off-Broad Street Theater in the First Baptist Church (1636 Sansom Street). Trousers premiered at Gúna Nua Theatre Company, Dublin, in 2006. The Irish Independent called the play "a deceptively simple comic gem".
Directed by Tom Reing and starring Jared Michael Delaney (The Hand of Gaul) and Adam Rzepka (PAC's The Sea Plays), Trousers takes on friendship and its hazards, from the exciting adventures of youth to the big steps of adulthood.
Mick and Dermot shared a giddy summer in Manhattan in 1989, working as busboys to earn college money. Singing duets to impress girls and chasing the New York dream, it was all for one and one for all...almosT. Fast forward to 2006: Mick is down on his luck and hustles his old friend Dermot for a place to stay in Dublin, up-ending Dermot's carefully ordered life. These thirty-somethings are jolted back to that crazy long-ago summer. Now on two very different tracks, each thinks the other needs his life straightened out. But could it just be déjà vu?
Inis Nua presents contemporary plays from Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales. When asked why he was drawn to create theatre around these cultures, Founder/Artistic Director Tom Reing said, "Because I love these cultures. I love their histories; but more importantly, I love what they are today and want to share that with audiences. It is the mixing of these cultures' great traditions of storytelling with contemporary themes and times that I think stays with you." Commenting on Inis Nua's Tenth Anniversary season, Reing said, "I am extremely humbled and proud that Inis Nua has reached its Tenth Anniversary. In my wildest dreams I could not have imagined, when we set out, that we would reach this milestone."
Opening night is Friday, February 7 at 8pm, with previews on Wednesday, February 5 and Thursday, February 6 at 7pm. Trousers runs for a total of 16 performances, through February 23. Tickets are $25 and $30. To purchase tickets and for further information, phone (215) 454-9776 or visit http://inisnuatheatre.org.
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