Invitation to Visit the North of Ireland

For six days at the end of September, travelers entering Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan could choose Belfast in the North of Ireland as their destination.

Discover Ireland, in an effort to draw visitors to the six counties of Antrim, Fermanagh, Tyrone, Derry, Armagh and Down, filled Vanderbilt Hall with exhibits, music, food and story telling from the region Sept. 24-29.

A multi-media exhibit on the Titanic, which was built in Belfast, described a newly developed tour of what was once the city's bustling shipyard. Generous displays of tourist literature and maps were on offer to help in planning a trip to enjoy Belfast's rich history and traditional music heritage, both found in pubs such as Kelly's Cellars.

During breaks from Irish dancing performances, actors presented history lessons on the walled city of Derry, chefs gave cooking demonstrations -- the Irish palate has graduated from beef, potatoes and veg --and Kabosh, the award-winning Belfast theater troupe, entertained.

Some lucky traveler will win two tickets to Belfast,courtesy of Discover Ireland, and will have the chance to experience a part of Ireland not often on the tour guide's agenda.

Last Friday Night at 1stIrish Festival

I really want to say something positive about "Three Irish Widows versus The Rest of the World," Ed Malone's one-man performance at Stage Left Studio as part of the 1stIrish Theatre Festival.

Last year I saw three 1stIrish productions and loved each one for its professionalism, fine acting and intimate theatre space. So, I was really looking forward to "Three Irish Widows."

Cheryl King greeted audience members warmly as they arrived at the 6th floor of 214 W. 30th Street in Manhattan, the new site of her Stage Left Studio performance space. The "black box" space, which is really painted red, accommodates an audience of about 20. we settled into our folding chairs in the front row with great anticipation.

Malone, who also wrote "Three Irish Widows," based the play on his mother and two aunts back home in Cork. After losing her husband, each woman sets out to look for love. The dearly departed were not always dearly beloved we learn.

Malone uses each woman's real name, so lucky they have not seen it performed, because the tales about their adventures in New York, Spain and India range from humorous to crude. It leaves you feeling embarrassed for his mother most of all. It seems that Malone is processing some of his own issues about growing up and a bout of alcoholism at the expense of Maura, Breda and Margaret.

The stage is completely bare except for a very frenetic, curly-haired Malone dressed in cargo shorts and an old plaid shirt.

I would love to return to Stage Left Studio to see another production with a little more heart and a bit more art.

Festival of Irish Theatre Returns

Great news for lovers of Irish theatre...1stIrish 2010 steps off on September 7, offering performances by Irish playwrights at venues across New York City.

Leading up to the celebration was a production of Frank McCourt's "The Irish...and How They Got That Way," which opened on July 14 at the Irish Repertory Theatre. The production, which commemorates the first anniversary of McCourt's passing, was well-received and has been extended to September 26.

What I enjoyed about last year's festival was the high level of acting and the intimate settings. I actually sat on the stage for one production. Now I'm looking through the schedule of this year's offerings to see what I can afford to attend.

The reviews for "Wife to James Whelan" at the Mint Theatre have been very positive. The playwright, Teresa Deevy (1894-1963), may have been forgotten in some circles but this production has some very modern themes of choices between love and ambition.

At the Stage Left Studio you can catch "Three Irish Widows Versus the Rest of the World," which sounds like a hen party version of "Eat Pray Love" with the three named widows traveling to Spain, New York and India in search of adventure and romance.

In "Hue and Cry" two Dublin cousins come together at a family funeral, and of course, all that emotion boils over in this Irish Repertory Theatre production.

A symposium about Irish theatre featuring leading actors, directors and playwrights comes near the end of the festival on September 25 at NYU Glucksman Ireland House.

For a full schedule check out www.1stirish.org. You'll find it hard to whittle your choices to just a few.