Philadelphia Here I Come!

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Philadelphia, Here I Come! is a play written by Brian Friel in 1964. It is about a restless young man named Gareth "Gar" O'Donnell, who resides in the backwater of Ballybeg, County Donegal, Ireland, and longs for more from his life. He does not enjoy a close relationship with his distant, widowed father but has 'Madge', the housekeeper, as a mother figure.

Gareth receives an invitation from relatives inviting him to come to Philadelphia. Much of the play concerns the character's internal monologues about the move and about America, which he declares is "pagan" at one point. This internal monologue is represented by two actors; Private Gar as Gar's inner thoughts, and Public Gar as his external facade.

The play was recently performed (2003-2004) through the Association of Regional Theatres Northern Ireland, directed by Adrian Dunbar and produced by Andrea Montgomery.