The Irish… and How They Got That Way explained

The Irish… and How They Got That Way
Music:Various
Lyrics:Various
Premiere Location:Irish Repertory Theatre
Productions:1997 Off-Broadway
2000 Off-Broadway revival
2010 Off-Broadway revival

The Irish… and How They Got That Way is an American Off-Broadway musical first performed in 1997 at the Irish Repertory Theatre. Based on a book by Frank McCourt, the play featured an eclectic mix of Irish music ranging from the traditional "Danny Boy" to U2's "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For."[1]

Development

Recognizing a 1990s interval of cultural Hibernophilia, Frank McCourt wrote The Irish… and How They Got That Way, which premiered in 1997 at the Irish Repertory Theatre, where McCourt had previously acted.[2] The play combines primary documents, such as news, letters, photos, paintings, and journals, either in spoken words[3] or in projections upon the backdrops[4] to illustrate the Irish-American struggle over the prior 150 years.[4]

Press notes described it as an "irreverent but affectionate history of the Irish in America that mingles laughter and sentiment in a tapestry of classical songs and stories. The production encapsulates the most tumultuous times of the past century with the vibrant humor and bitter irony that had become the trademark of the author."[5]

The show was revived at the same theatre in 2000,[6] and again in 2010 for the one-year anniversary of McCourt's death on July 19.[2] [5] [7] Previewed from July 14 and scheduled to run from July 22 to September 5,[2] [5] the show was extended through September 26 due to enthusiastic reviews and responses.[3] [8]

Reception

Broadway World summarized the play's reviews:[2] [4] [6] [7] [9]

The Associated Press' Jennifer Farrar called The Irish… and How They Got That Way "pure enjoyment ... an exuberant, mostly Irish cast enacts McCourt's wide-ranging material that sizzles with outrage, wit, pride, and of course, sentiment." For NY1, Time Out's David Cote proclaimed: "The cast of two men and four women put on a spirited, jaunty show by alternating singing, dancing and reciting with fluid ease in Charlotte Moore's brisk, affectionate staging." In his The New York Times review, Andy Webster observed "the buoyant blend of traditional songs, show tunes and pop is delightful." According to Theatermania.com's David Finkle, the revival is "a fitting tribute to everything Irish." In the New Yorker, Trish Deitch wrote "the production, directed by Charlotte Moore, is full of confidence and humor, and with the help of a talented cast, the Irish come out on top." And in her CurtainUp.com review, Elizabeth Ahlfors concluded "all that was missing was a pint of Guinness."[8]

Cast and credits

Notable cast and credits included:[2] [5] [10] [11] [12]

Performances

Venue City Season
1997
Irish Repertory Theatre Chelsea, New York 1999
Irish Repertory Theatre Chelsea, New York 2000
The Fulton Opera House Lancaster, Pennsylvania 2006
Irish Repertory Theatre Chelsea, New York 2010
2011
2013[13]

Songs

The musical incorporates the following Irish-American music:[2] [3] [4] [6] [14]

A cast album was released in 1998 by Varèse Sarabande.[15]

Notes and References

  1. News: Byrne. Terry. Frank McCourt's 'The Irish… and How They Got That Way' is a celebration. Theater & Art. The Boston Globe. 18 May 2014. 4 Feb 2013. The proceedings bear out a determination to set the record straight about the tragedy of the Great Famine, and evince a reverence for John F. Kennedy, a pride in iconic Irish-Americans George M. Cohan and James Cagney, and a humorous, slightly bitter attitude toward British oppression..
  2. News: Theater Review . Webster . Andy . A Frank McCourtTale of Immigrant Tribe Viewed in Emerald Lens Revue Is Revived . November 30, 2020 . The New York Times . August 4, 2010 . C2.
  3. News: 'The Irish… and How They Got That Way' at the Irish Repertory Theatre. Backstage. Andy. Propst. 22 Jul 2010. 18 May 2014.
  4. News: 'The Irish… and How They Got That Way' is pure enjoyment. Dallas Morning News. Jennifer. Farrar. 1 Aug 2010. 18 May 2014. Arts. New York City. Associated Press.
  5. News: Irish Rep Revival of 'The Irish… and How They Got That Way' Opens July 22 . . Andrew . Gans . 22 Jul 2010 . 18 May 2014 . U.S./Canada . Playbill, Inc. . dead . https://archive.today/20140522214016/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/141384-Irish-Rep-Revival-of-The-Irishand-How-They-Got-That-Way-Opens-July-22 . 22 May 2014.
  6. News: 'The Irish… and How They Got That Way': The Irish Repertory Theatre offers a lively revival of Frank McCourt's tune-filled show. Theater Mania. David. Finkle. 22 Jul 2010. New York City. 18 May 2014.
  7. News: Time Out Theater Review: 'The Irish… and How They Got That Way' . . David . Cote . 27 Jul 2010 . 18 May 2014 . . Theater Reviews . dead . https://archive.today/20140522214051/http://www.ny1.com/content/lifestyles/theater_reviews/122772/time-out-theater-review---the-irish--and-how-they-got-that-way- . 22 May 2014.
  8. News: Irish Rep Extends 'The Irish… and How They Got That Way' Thru 9/26. Broadway World. BWW News Desk. 11 Aug 2010. 18 May 2014.
  9. News: Also Notable: The Irish… and How They Got That Way. New Yorker. Trish. Deitch. 2010. 8 Aug 2014.
  10. Web site: A CurtainUp Review: The Irish… and How They Got That Way. David. Lohrey. 2001. 8 Aug 2014.
  11. News: 'The Irish… and How They Got That Way': Irish Repertory Theatre . . . 2 Oct 1997 . 22 May 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140809201240/http://www.lortel.org/lla_archive/index.cfm?search_by=show&id=421 . 9 August 2014.
  12. News: 'The Irish… and How They Got That Way': Irish Repertory Theatre . . . 26 Sep 2010 . 22 May 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121010211457/http://www.lortel.org/LLA_archive/index.cfm?search_by=show&id=5567 . 10 October 2012.
  13. Web site: Frank McCourt's 'The Irish… and How They Got That Way': About the Show. 2013. 18 May 2014.
  14. Web site: A CurtainUp Review: The Irish… and How They Got That Way. Elizabeth. Ahlfors. 2010. 8 Aug 2014.
  15. Web site: The Irish... And How They Got That Way [Original Cast Recording] - Frank McCourt | Releases.

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