I, Keano

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I, Keano
Music Paul Woodfull
Lyrics Arthur Mathews
Michael Nugent
Book Arthur Mathews
Michael Nugent
Productions 2005 Dublin

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 Which ran for 2 months at the Olympia, Dublin and subsequently toured Ireland for 9 weeks.

I, Keano returned in Jan 2008 for a limited run with a revival of the 2007 production this was billed as the last chance ever to see the show but after a sell out run at the Olympia it will now return for "Extra Time" at the olympia for 2 weeks from the 19th of May 2008.

[edit] Characters

The characters, and the real-life figures who they parody, are:

[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 and 2008*.

Three cast members have been ever-present: Dessie Gallagher (Macartacus) and Malachy McKenna (Obsequius); as has the musical director David Hayes.

The cast has also included Gary Cooke and David O'Meara (Dunphia, Fergie); Paul McGlinchey and Diarmuid Murtagh (Packie Bonnerus); Risteárd Cooper, Conor Delaney and Vincent Moran (Quinness); Tara Flynn, Susannah de Wrixon, Sharon Sexton and Caroline Morahan (Surfia); and Gary Cooke, 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, David O'Meara and Pat Nolan (Scandalus); and Gemma Crowley and Karl Harpur (Superfluous).

  • *(Beamish was diagnosed with cancer in the middle of the 2007 run but continued performing until just before the end of the tour when he had to pull out to begin treatment. Understudy Karl Harpur took over the role. Beamish returned for the 2008 run.)

[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

  1. ^ I, Keano Still Has Fans in Raptures Irish Examiner, 31 January 2007
  2. ^ The Never Ending Story. Edel Coffey, Sunday Tribune Review, 4 February 2007
  3. ^ Art Imitates Life as Hit I, Keano Camp Splits. Evening Herald, 25 Feb 2005
  4. ^ New Scandal For Roy Keane Musical. Brian Logan, The Guardian, 3 March 2005
  5. ^ Lasting Impression Interview with Mario Rosenstock, Irish Examiner, 24 December 2005
  6. ^ Hundreds Queue for Tickets on Roy's Home Turf Niamh Hennessy, Irish Examiner, 26 July 2005

[edit] External links

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