by Conal Creedon
directed by Tim Ruddy
July 29- September 27, 2008
Two potent plays from Ireland that explore the sometime volatile world of father and son. The Irish Repertory Theatre is proud to present the American Premiere of After Luke. Set in the heyday of Ireland’s recent boon, it explores the greed-driven frenzy of the property market when one son returns from abroad and manipulates the sale of the home place. The action unfolds in that contentious place where concrete and asphalt meet pasture and stone with devastatingly tragic consequences.
When I Was God is a searing drama of a father’s heartbreaking expectations for his son in sports. Tribal passions emerge as we witness through the eyes of a ten year old, the unbridled longings of a fanatical dad. On the field of dreams the referee is God, but what happens when God is made man? Come and have your heart broken with laughter and joy. That’s how the Irish do it!
“In Creedon’s seriocomic yarn-spinning, there’s ROBUST HUMOR AND PLENTY OF ROUGH POETIC FLOURISH. Father might know worst, but he can turn a juicy phrase.” — Time Out New York
“Satisfyingly action-packed, at times even turbulent… Mellamphy SUPERBLY RICOCHETS among three roles.” — The Associated Press
“Full of FRESH HUMOR and INTENSE CONFLICT… the entire evening is a touching, heartbreaking look at fathers and sons.” — Hollywood Reporter
“Gary Gregg delivers A STRONG PERFORMANCE… commanding every second he has on stage.” — Theatermania
“Lane is OUTSTANDING.” — Talkin’ Broadway
“The small cast does an EXCELLENT JOB, EACH WITH THEIR SHINING MOMENT. Colin Lane’s portrayal of Dadda, a man with an impossible task, is very touching. Michael Mellamphy
shines in When I Was God, jumping from guileless young son to mother hen effortlessly. But the night really belongs to Gary Gregg — he is the back bone of both plays and stunning to watch.” — nytheatre.com
“Creedon has a rich and authentic authorial voice, and a keen grasp of the life he remembers from his boyhood in Ireland’s ‘second’ city…. A DECIDEDLY PLEASANT SUMMER surprise from The Irish Repertory Theatre.” — Irish Echo
“If you’re looking for a HEALTHY DOSE OF FAMILIAL TESTOSTERONE WITHOUT ANY BLARNEY, these muscular one-acts will serve you well.” — Metro