Brian Friel revivals

Not one, but two, Brian Friel plays are being revived for the Dublin summer tourist season 2011. "Translations" opens at the Abbey Theatre tomorrow night while "Molly Sweeney" opens at the Gate Theatre tonight. 

Dublin drama critic Sara Keating told me earlier today that she reckons Friel is the sexiest name to have above a theatre door to get the tourist bums on seats. 

There were few tourist bums on the seats of the Guilhall chairs in Derry in September 1980 when "Translations" premiered along with a brand new theatre company Field Day. A hugely political play, set in a 19th century hedge school, that Field Day opening night was a cultural watershed moment in Derry. The Unionist mayor in the City Council then was Marlene Jefferson. She was the first on her feet to lead the standing ovation after the first performance.

I wasn't there, much to my regret now. I remember my parents leaving our house to drive from Newry to see it. It was a bit of a family affair; my mother's niece, Consolata Boyle, had designed the set and costumes, while my uncle Robert, a local builder, had built the set! But I've heard so much about the wow factor of that night that somewhere in my imagination I have willed myself into the middle of the audience so much so that I can almost smell it!

One of my most treasured possessions, the thing to grab if the house is on fire, is a framed "Translations" poster from that first run in the Guildhall, courtesy of my aunt Mairead who bequeathed it to me a few years ago.

My guilty secret is that I have never seen the play performed live, despite imagining myself there in the Guildhall almost 31 years ago now! So I reckon my bum will be on a seat in the Abbey this summer!