Chicago Sun Times: "Inspired by J. M. Synge's landmark drama of the Irish theatre – in which a young man becomes a temporary hero after committing patricide – this show deserves a thriving future. Along with its ready-made tragicomic story and marvelous characters, it comes with a lovely lyrical score that very skillfully blends traditional Irish melodies and a Broadway sound."  Lyrics by Kate Hancock, Music by Richard B. Evans, and Book by Hancock & Evans. THE PLAYBOY OF BALYDUFF, An Irish Musical Comedy – a darkly humoured yet deeply romantic new musical with soaring melodies, comedic songs, some of the most quirky characters ever to inhabit the stage, and Traditional Irish dancing! Based on the renowned Irish comedy, The Playboy of the Western World, by John Millington Synge, the town of Balyduff is suddenly host to a mysterious and even dangerous visitor. Pegeen, an Irish country girl who longs for adventure, falls in love with the handsome stranger who confesses that he’s killed his father! Thinking him "courageous", the villagers make him a hero and the local celebrity . . . until his father turns up quite alive! Irish comedy, Irish dancing and Irish music meet Broadway!  Dublin's Abbey Theatre's opening night performance in January, 1907, erupted in riots which had to be quelled by police, and by famed poet William Butler Yeats mounting the stage to give a speech in defense of Synge. Irish theater was never the same!

Cast & crew from the staged reading of THE PLAYBOY OF BALYDUFF at the York Theatre, NYC, included: Paul Castree, Joe Kolinski,  Sarah Nadeau, Erin Davie, Jeff Cyronek, Max Von Essen, Felicity LaFortune,  P. J. Benjamin, Stacie Morgain Lewis,  Michael Flanigan, Kathleen Early. Robert Mikulski (Music Director), Maggie Harrer (Director), Bob Goldstone (Assoc. Music Director), Kate Hancock (Lyricist, Co-Bookwriter), Richard B. Evans (Composer, Co-Bookwriter).   THE PLAYBOY OF BALYDUFF had its first reading at the Manhattan Theatre Club in August 2003. Staged readings were also presented in New York City at the Irish Arts Center in February 2004, and the York Theatre in March 2004.

THE PLAYBOY OF BALYDUFF, An Irish Musical Comedy, was selected in a national competition to be given a fully staged reading at the Chicago Stages Festival of New Musicals 2005.     Directed by Ilesa Duncan; Jon Steinhagen, (Music Director). Cast: Anne Acker, Nancy Kolton, Andrew Lambertson, Aaron Minnick, Andrew Nadon, Jim Sherman, Scott J. Sumerak, Amy Steele, Lance D. Taylor, Jeny Wasilewski, Sarah Weis, Bill Zorn.

SONG LIST:      ACT 1   1. Overture (Pegeen & Cast, Offstage) 2. Dreams (Pegeen, Sarah, Honor) 3. You're English, Aren't You? (Jimmy) 4. The Road to Hell (Sean, Michael, Jimmy) 5. Grand Altogether in Balyduff  (Widow Quin, Pegeen, Father Aloysius, Jimmy, Michael, Philly, Villagers) 6. The Ballad of Christy Mahon (Michael, Jimmy, Christy) 7. There's a Great Temptation in a Hero (Widow, Pegeen) 8A. The Lad She Sees (Christy, Pegeen) 8B. Night Music Interlude  (Orchestra & Offstage Chorus) 9. The Old Christy Mahon's No More  (Christy) 10. Do Ya Fancy? (Sara, Honor, Nellie, Widow) 11. Strike a Little Bargain (Widow, Sean)     ACT 2   12A. A Pitiful Stuttering Lout  (Old Mahon)        12B. Christy's Rejoinder   (Christy, Widow) 13. What's a Man Without a Woman?   (Widow, Christy) 14. Festival Music   (Cast, Orchestra) 15A. A Young Irish Woman (Pegeen, Philly, Jimmy, Michael) 15B. Dancing Competition Music (Cast, Orchestra) 16. Playboy of the Western World  (Cast) 17A. The Ballad of Old Mahon  (Old Mahon) 17B. Playboy of the Western World, Offstage Reprise  (Cast) 18A. The Light of Seven Heavens   (Christy, Pegeen) 18B. Connemara   (Christy, Pegeen) 19. Christy's Farewell  (Christy) 20. In the Morning  (Pegeen & Offstage Chorus)

© 2008, Richard B. Evans   |  All contents of this website © (p) Richard Bunger Evans and Seacastle Music Company