I’d envisioned myself in the romantic lead role for my acting debut.
Not as Plooky (that’s Scottish for spotty) Jack in The Northern College’s production of The Slab Boys in Aberdeen in 1984.
I was hardly likely to catch the eye of the ladies there!
Unimaginably my performance didn’t reach the ears of Martin Scorsese or Steven Spielberg.
And my career path took another direction.
But between jobs as I am, and out in Hollywood earlier this summer, I couldn’t help thinking they’d missed a chance.
Which is my roundabout way of saying I’m available to understudy for the Wexford cast of the Glencairn Cycle who are heading to San Fransisco next month.
For the Eugene O’Neill Festival.
The Irish production will be showcased to American audiences aboard the Balclutha berthed at Fisherman’s Wharf on September 1.
And so it will come as absolutely no surprise to anyone that Eugene O’Neill is of Irish stock.
Eugene’s dad James was a wee boy when he emigrated from New Ross, Co. Wexford in 1851.
Hence Wexford celebrating the playwright who won an Oscar for Long Days Journey Into Night.
Which, of course, tells the story of the O’Neill Family and their passage to America and their attempts at assimilation.
Wexford has its own festival, its second, in New Ross from October 8-13.
And you can catch O’Neill’s magnus opus.
And twice daily the Glencairn Cycle of Plays aboard the Dunbrody Famine Ship berthed at New Ross Quayside.
Which are set aboard the fictional ship the ‘SS Glencairn’ with the plays titled Bound East for Cardiff, The Long Voyage Home and In the Zone.
Just the ticket
Tickets to the festival weekend at St. Michael’s Theatre in New Ross are available at €100. Tickets for individual events are available from €15.
For further details see www.eugeneoneillfestival.com and http://www.visitwexford.ie
And if you want more insights into my old stomping ground of Aberdeen https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/brexit-aberdeen-a-light-in-the-north/.
And more on Hollywood where they have the worst waiters in the world… because they all want to be actors.
They are only interested in you if you’re Steven Spielberg. https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/06/22/my-weekend-with-marilyn/.