The Irish Curse
Full Length Play, Comedy / 5m
"Critics Pick! Colorful character-driven comedy." –Time Out New York
The Irish Curse
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Cast Size
5mDuration
90 minutesAccolades
From Off-BroadwayTarget Audience
- Adult
- Senior
Additional Info
Accolades
- Nominee! 2013 GLAAD Media Award, Outstanding Los Angeles Theater
Reviews
REVIEWS
"Casella is at his best when he's going for laughs. He gets a lot of them." –The New York Times
"Critics Pick! Colorful character-driven comedy." –Time Out New York
"The Irish Curse is a very human and even humane play. You will find yourself rooting for these esteem-building sessions to succeed." –Michael Kuchwara, Associated Press
"ONE OF THE BEST PLAYS OF THE YEAR! Truly original, truly hysterical and truly touching! You will be enthralled! –Talk Entertainment
Videos
Keywords
Adolescence, Aging, Betrayal, Childhood, Christianity, Current Events, Friendship, LGBT issues, Love, Marriage, Memory, Parenting/Family, Politics, ReligionConsiderations
Performing Groups
- College Theatre / Student
- Community Theatre
- Professional Theatre
- Shoestring Budget
- Large Stage
- Blackbox / Second Stage /Fringe Groups
Cautions
- Intense Adult Themes
- Strong Language
License details
- Minimum Fee: $90 per performance
Production
Details
- Time Period: Contemporary, Present Day
- Duration: 90 minutes
- Setting: One set, a contemporary basement meeting hall in a Catholic Church in Brooklyn, New York. The play can be done as it was in off-Broadway production, with a full out, intricately detailed set, with stained glass and rainwater running down the windows. It can also be portrayed more simply.
- Additional Features: No intermission
- Features / Contains: Contemporary Costumes / Street Clothes
Music
- Musical Style: N/A (Not a musical)
Casting
5mJOSEPH FLAHERTY – 40s, the short side, stout and balding; born in Savannah, Georgia, and now an angry, liberal contracts lawyer who lives on the "way Upper West Side;" his wife recently walked out, leaving him with two young daughters
STEPHEN FITZGERALD – late 30s; tall, handsome gay cop from the Bronx; a moody, dark, taciturn smart-ass; lives with his father, who's also a cop; never ever ever sees the glass as half full, although he would probably like to
KEVIN SHAUNESSY – late 40s early 50s, a Catholic priest originally from Boston; principal of a parochial school in Brooklyn Heights, which donates rooms to various support groups; a sweet, caring guy with acting aspirations; actually looks like he could play a priest on TV
KEIRAN RILEY – late 20s, nice-looking, middle class guy from Queens who works at a roofing company; exuberant, very nervous, and very sincere; also really Irish and someone you'd want to be your best friend
Cast Attributes
- All Male
- Ensemble cast
Casting Notes
The play is about four Irish-American guys from New York, and one real Irishman from Dublin. The physical types are very specific.
Resources
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Authors
The Irish Curse was first produced at the New York International Fringe Festival, Summer 2005, where it won the festival's Outstanding Playwriting Award. The play was subsequently performed in the 2006 Edinburgh Fringe Festival and the 2007 Dublin International Gay Theatre Festival. It opened Off-Broadway at the SoHo Playhouse in New York City in March 2010 and has since enjoyed many regional productions across the country.
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