Wellington Irish Society to Present Fun & Frivolity with ‘Pub Theatre’, Irish Dancing & Music

Nine performances of Ireland’s well-known and controversial play, “Playboy of the Western World”, will kick-off the holiday season

27th October 2014 - The Wellington Irish Society promises fun and frivolity - Irish style - when it presents a modern day version of John Millington Synge’s “Playboy of the Western World” in a unique pub theatre style setting. Unlike traditional theatre, guests will be seated at small tables, providing for a more intimate experience, and will be treated like patrons of the pub and often included in the action of the play.

Guests will also be treated to table service when purchasing beverages or snacks available from the Irish Society Bar, and are welcome to bring their own food to the performance. The night's entertainment will go beyond theatre, with guests invited to enjoy traditional Irish dancing and music which will follow the show and add to the overall experience of the evening.

“We’re excited to be putting on this event. Anyone who is Irish has heard of this play. It’s a chance for our Irish community to come together at this time of year, and it’s a good opportunity to introduce Wellingtonians to our community and to our club rooms and hall as a possible venue for future events,” said Paul Murray, President of Wellington Irish Society.

The well-known and controversial play is a dark comedy set in the early 1900’s in County Mayo, Ireland, which ignited riots and protests when it first debuted in 1907 in Dublin. Protestors claimed the play was an insult against Ireland, fostered bigotry against the Catholic Church, and considered the contents of the play to be offensive and immoral.

This presentation will be set in modern day Ireland, though the dialogue will be as it was originally written. It is the story of how one man, ‘playboy’ Christy Mahon, tries to transform his life by killing his father and telling grand tales about it. These grand tales bring him much admiration from the people of the village who soon become to look at him as a hero … until they realise that his father is still alive.

“It’s an unbelievable, yet completely convincing story of how people try to escape their ordinary lives”, says Irish Society member, Neil Connolly, who plays Christy Mahon. “I’m originally from the area where this story is based, and I always wanted to do this play, because I always wanted to play this guy. There’s a little trickster like Christy Mahon in all of us, especially me!"” says Connolly.

Performances will be on the following dates:
- Thurs-Fri, 27-28 November – 7.30pm
- Sat, 29 November – 8.30pm
- Sun, 30 November – 2pm Matinee
- Tues- Sat, 2-6 December – 7.30pm

Tickets are available through Eventfinder - http://www.eventfinder.co.nz/2014/playboy-of-the-western-world/wellingto...

About Wellington Irish Society

Wellington Irish Society exists to serve the Irish community in Wellington and to provide a meeting place for those Irish and their friends and family visiting or living in Wellington.
Website: http://www.wellingtonirishsociety.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WellingtonIrishClub