Frank McCourt (Angela's Ashes) writes a lovely Irish play/revue archived

Saw "The Irish- and How They Got That Way" at the Davis Square Theater near Tufts University today in Somerville MA. If you get a chance to see and hear it, I heartily recommend it. Frank McCourt was born in Brooklyn, then went to Ireland, then came back to teach for 25 years in New York public schools. He then went into show business with his brother, Malachy McCourt. He then wrote a book about his childhood, called Angela's Ashes, and then he wrote this play.
There's Irish history, especially in America, lots of folk music, including the song that Irish American soldiers of the Union Army and the Confederacy sang together across the Rapohannock before a major battle of the Civil War, the "Hills of Anoshfree" (I know I'm not spelling that right?), The Erie Canal song and many other ballads. A young tenor sang "Danny Boy" like an angel. George M. Cohan was well-represented, the song of the Molly McGuires, and much, much more. The audience had a grand time, and the bar was just next door.

Sounds so nice!

It was delightful, especially that it was in a tiny theater and the actor/musicians were so close by. It was very intimate and sweet. I cried a bucket when they sang about "the first Catholic President."

Frank McCourt is my favorite writer, and Malachy is no slouch, either! All three of Frank's memoirs: Angela's Ashes, 'Tis, and Teacher Man are well worth the read. I just love his writing style! Malachy wrote "Singing My Him Song" and "A Monk Swimming: A Memoir" and both were wonderful. ETA: Malachy wrote much more than that, but those are the two that I have read so far: http://www.malachymccourt.com/pages/the_books.html. I think the next I would like to read is, "Harold Be Thy Name".

This play sounds great. I wish I'd seen it with you. I also would like to see, "A Couple of Blaguards" by Frank and Malachy:
http://www.acoupleofblaguards.com/

Their youngest brother Alphie also wrote a memoir, A Long Stone's Throw, which was published in 2008. I haven't read it yet, but hope to soon! LOVE the McCourts!

Loved Angela's Ashes. Frank McCourt passed away in 2009 but he is still heard on a commercial. His brother Malachy writes a good story also.

galileo said:

Loved Angela's Ashes. Frank McCourt passed away in 2009 but he is still heard on a commercial. His brother Malachy writes a good story also.

If you loved Angela's Ashes, you owe it to yourself to finish the trilogy of memoirs, each one so lovely.

Pamplemousse - it's Innisfree, the 's' is given a 'sh' sound. It's not a real place, it refers to the village Sean Thornton returns to in 'The Quiet Man'.

Thanks, Dot. It's such a poignant song, about the wife of a man who goes to prison during the famine. Apparently, the Irish were sending their stock (sheep, lambs, beef, etc.) and foodstuffs to fill the tables of the British, while the poor in Ireland, of course, depended upon the potato crop. McCourt descibes in detail the horrors of the famine, and how people were arrested for stealing corn or other crops to try to feed their families.
"The Irish wars are happy and their songs are sad," was one of the quotes which the script ascribes "probably to an Englishman." There was raucous humor and deep sadness, so that the audience was laughing through their tears, which sort of fits the Irish experience, I would say!

OK well it's a snow day so I have time to tell you all the songs in this revue. Here they are: Rose of Tralee; Believe Me if All Those Endearing Young Charms; If You Ever Go Across the Sea to Ireland; Carrick Fergus; I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen; If You're Irish, Come into the Parlor; Come Home Paddy Reilly; Torra Lorra Lorra; Mrs. McGrath; Rare Ould Times; Fields of Athenry; Skibbereen; Anchor's Aweigh (not the military song, but a very soulful ballad about an Irish husband leaving his wife for America); Shores of Amerikay; No Irish Need Apply/Irish Washerwoman; Erie Canal (my favorite); Moonshiner; Danny Boy (beautifully sung, by the way); Finnegan's Wake (the audience loved this one); Ireland Boys, Hurray! (sung simultaneously on the eve of a major battle by both sides in the Civil War, across the Rappahanock); The Ghost of Molly McGuire, about the coalminers and their struggles, (Molly McGuire is reputed to have been a real labor movement fighting lady of the 1800's, so the coalminers adopted her name); Give My Regards to Broadway: You're a Grand Old Flag and Over There (weren't those Irving Berlin??) Yankee Doodle Dandy; Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye,(in reference to JFK); Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For, sung with true enthusiasm by the youthful cast. Instruments included drum, mandolin, several guitars, flute, piano and harmonicay.

Sounds so lovely!!!

Started my daughter on Angela's Ashes a few weeks back. She read a bit, and learned a lot about her heritage. Didn't really know much at all, I was a little surprised to learn (sometimes one forgets to share, or shares when they are too young to remember). I think it's still too "old" for her (she's just 12), so we'll go at it later. Maybe it'll play some time in NYC agian? Thanks for the heads-up.

You're welcome. I know the play has been at the Davis Square Theater for a while now. It was nearly sold out for Sunday, of course. I don't know if they're going to NYC but I bet they'd love hearing from you that you'd be interested in seeing this. The producers are Mynnelou Productions inc and the Bernann Co, LLC. Actually, they're from the Philadelphia area originally. (Names are Berne Siergiej and Anne Dunnington.)Howard Perloff produced the Irish in Philly before bringing it to Boston. He's the Artistic Director of Mynnelou Productions, fwiw.

This play is great for kids, by the way, and teaches much about Irish culture and heritage without being braggy or overwhelming or critical or too "adult" ( if you know what I mean.)

Just read McCourt's hilarious, touching memoir "Teacher Man" and I highly recommend it, especially for educators.

It's so great...but reading them in order is the best: Angela's Ashes, 'Tis, Teacher Man...the growth of boy to man...