I, Keano
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
I, Keano is a comedy musical play about footballer Roy Keane leaving the Republic of Ireland national football team before the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
It is written by Arthur Mathews, Michael Nugent and Paul Woodfull, and is presented as a mock-epic melodrama about an ancient Roman legion preparing for war.
In its first two years, over half a million people watched it, generating €10m ($13m) in ticket sales.[1] [2] In January 2007, it began its third year of performances.
Contents |
[edit] Productions
Peter Sheridan, brother of film director Jim Sheridan, directed the first production in 2005. It starred Mario Rosenstock of the Irish radio comedy show Gift Grub, and Risteárd Cooper and Gary Cooke of the Irish television comedy show Après Match.
Controversy arose during the first run when three leading cast members publicly left the show, including ironically Rosenstock who played Keano, leading to media articles about life imitating art imitating life. [3] [4] [5]
Roy Keane attended the show in Dublin in 2005.[6] Michael Caven directed the second production in 2006, which included a run in Manchester, England. Terry Byrne directed the third production in 2007.
[edit] Characters
The characters, and the real-life figures who they parody, are:
- Keano, the legion's greatest warrior (Roy Keane, then Ireland footballer, now manager of Sunderland football club)
- Fergie, a hair-dryer god (Alex Ferguson, manager of Manchester United)
- General Macartacus (Mick McCarthy, then manager of Ireland, now manager of Wolverhampton Wanderers)
- Quinness, a warrior (Niall Quinn, then Ireland footballer, now chairman of Sunderland football club)
- Surfia, washerwoman to the legion (Gillian Quinn, Niall's wife)
- Packie Bonnerus, a warrior (Packie Bonner, then Ireland goalkeeping coach, now television pundit)
- Duffus and Keano the Younger, two child warriors (Ireland footballers Damien Duff of Newcastle United and Robbie Keane of Tottenham Hotspur)
- Ridiculus, head of the legion's Federation (representing the Football Association of Ireland)
- Dunphia, a wood nymph (Eamon Dunphy, Irish commentator and ghost-writer of Roy Keane's autobiography)
- Sanctimonius, Obsequius, Scandalus and Superfluous, a scribes' chorus (representing the different viewpoints of the Irish media).
[edit] Cast
The lead role of Keano has been played by Mario Rosenstock and Pat Kinevane in 2005, Denis Foley in 2006 and Jamie Beamish in 2007.
Four cast members have been ever-present: Dessie Gallagher (Macartacus), Paul McGlinchey (Packie Bonnerus), Gary Cooke (Dunphia, Fergie), and Malachy McKenna (Obsequius); as has the musical director David Hayes.
The cast has also included Risteárd Cooper, Conor Delaney and Vincent Moran (Quinness); Tara Flynn, Susannah de Wrixon and Sharon Sexton (Surfia); and Joe Taylor and Ciaran Bermingham (Ridiculus).
The scribes have been played by Joe Taylor and Nicholas Grennell (Sanctimonius); Malachy McKenna (Obsequius); Nicky Elliot, Maclean Burke and David O'Meara (Scandalus); and Gemma Crowley and Karl Harpur (Superfluous).
[edit] Quotes
Tagline: He Came. He Saw. He Went Home.
Keano: "Typical! If you fail to plan, then you’re planning to fail."
Packie Bonnerus: "But if you plan to fail, and you do fail, then surely you have succeeded?"
[edit] References
- ^ I, Keano Still Has Fans in Raptures Irish Examiner, 31 January 2007
- ^ The Never Ending Story. Edel Coffey, Sunday Tribune Review, 4 February 2007
- ^ Art Imitates Life as Hit I, Keano Camp Splits. Evening Herald, 25 Feb 2005
- ^ New Scandal For Roy Keane Musical. Brian Logan, The Guardian, 3 March 2005
- ^ Lasting Impression Interview with Mario Rosenstock, Irish Examiner, 24 December 2005
- ^ Hundreds Queue for Tickets on Roy's Home Turf Niamh Hennessy, Irish Examiner, 26 July 2005
[edit] External links
- Review of I, Keano, Shane Murray, RTÉ, January 2007
- Review of I, Keano, James Ducker, London Times, 2 March 2006
- Review of I, Keano, Alan Pattullo, The Scotsman, 21 January 2006
- Review of I, Keano, Anthony Garvey, The Stage, 17 February 2005
- Review of I, Keano, James McMahon, RTÉ, 10 February 2005
- Review of I, Keano, Harvey O'Brien, CultureVulture.Net, 9 February 2005
- This Time It's Roy Keane The Musical, Richard Jinman, The Guardian, 8 February 2005
- Soccer Bust-Up Inspires Musical, Diarmaid Fleming, BBC, 8 February 2005
- I, Keano at IrishPlayography.Com