From Thursday November 3, an adaptation of John Millington Synge’s classic drama, The Playboy of the Western World, will be staged at the Atlas Performing Arts Center, Washington DC. Co-written by Nigerian playwright, Bisi Adigun and his Irish counterpart, Rory Doyle, the US premiere is set to wow American audiences till November 20.
Published in 1907, JM Synge’s play was one of the iconic plays in Ireland in early 20th century. Though critics panned it for its dreariness, Playboy was hailed by some of the playwright’s contemporaries and colleagues as the classic it deserved to be. The Irish Times called it “a hugely entertaining, often laugh-out-loud funny…superb piece of theatre.”
The adaptation of Playboy has been described as “a timely take on the classic tale of rural life in Western Ireland.” Written for the stage by the duo of Adigun and Doyle, Booker and BAFTA-winning writer, audiences are breathlessly awaiting its premiere on the American stage. Instead of the Irish farmers and villagers of Synge’s original, the characters in this adaptation “are now tough Dublin gangsters, and the scallywag, runaway playboy of the story is re-imagined as a Nigerian refugee. The adaptation shifts the action to modern-day, urban Ireland and highlights the changes that have occurred in the country, especially around such issues as immigration and inequality.”
To be sponsored by Solas Nua – ‘new light’ in Irish – founded in 2005 and “dedicated exclusively to contemporary Irish arts,” Solas Nua also “acts as an ambassador and advocate for Irish arts in the U.S., promoting contemporary Irish culture, multi-disciplinary arts and creativity. Solas Nua commissions, produces and presents thought-provoking and groundbreaking work across genres, work that is cross-cultural, representing today’s Ireland – a contemporary, globally diverse society – and reflecting how Irish culture is shared across borders, ethnicity, and economic lines.”
In a newsletter by Jahman Anikulapo, venerable Arts journalist, co-founder of the Committee of Relevant Art and now coordinator of the Soyinka Centre at Freedom Park, “the script was first commissioned by Adigun’s theatre company, Arambe Productions, Ireland’s first and only African Theatre Company, and was produced by Ireland’s famed Abbey Theatre in 2007. A popular success, the adaptation drew critical acclaim: “an intriguing, freewheeling farce…Synge’s eloquence is decanted into the wisecracking Dublin repartee of The Commitments and The Van” (The Guardian, UK).
“Playboy is arguably Ireland’s most famous play. This contemporary adaptation showcases the comedy and dramatic power that Synge originally captured, while simultaneously reframing the context to include the multi-cultural identity of modern Ireland. It’s a remarkable piece of writing and we’re delighted to bring it to U.S. audiences.”
Shanara Gabrielle will direct the new adaptation while another Nigerian Sulmane Maigadi, a former seminarian and now minister, is the culture consultant to the team. To be staged as a matinee from 2.30pm, there will also be a post mortem during which Adigun will respond to the audience in a Q&A session.
