#Irish Playwright Brian Friel

• Author: Brian Friel (1929-2015)
  
• Title: Philadelphia, Here I Come!
• Published: 1964
• Genre: tragicomedy
• Reading time: 1,5 hr
• Trivia: this play made Friel famous in
• …Dublin, London and New York
• List of Challenges 2018
• Monthly plan
• List of Plays
• #ReadIreland

Quickscan:

1. The play describes Gareth’s  last night in his home town of Ballybeg.
2. He is an Irish lad about to set off for America.
3. Friel recognizes an idea of home
4. ….at the moment it is about to disappear.

Characters:

1. Gareth is played by 2 actors: Public and Private.
2. Friel reveals in this way the difference between
3. how we see ourselves (lonely, emotional life)
4. and how we appear to others (gregarious, social).
5. Other characters are:
6. Gar’s surrogate mother Madge; housekeeper
7. Gar’s speechless, affectionless father
8. Gar’s ex-fiancée Kate

Conclusion:

1. This play grabs you by the hand not your throat.
2. It is sentimental piece of writing with the
3. right blend of regret….loveless youth, distant father.
4. and laughter….on the threshold of escape to,
5. “a vast restless place that
6. …doesn’t give a damn about the past.”
7. The reader must decide is this play about
8. ….and exile or emigration?
9. #WorthYourReadingTime

Last thoughts:

1. This play is really meant to be seen and not only read!
2. The interchanges between the two actors ‘Public and Private’
3. bring a real dynamic that captures the audiences attention.
4. The maternal touches/gestures of Madge
5. …the surrogate mother show her loving character.
6. She stuffs snacks and a few pound notes in Gar’s luggage,
7. …invites 3 mates to come and say good-bye.
8. She warns Gar to be strong…because he will get homesick.
9. Her exit the end of the play will pluck a heart string!