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Magic Theatre , Building D
Irish author and playwright Edna O’Brien taps in to the Irish bardic tradition by incorporating the legend of Tír na nÓg into her latest world premiere production at Magic Theatre. Set for a late February debut, Tír Na nÓg is O’Brien’s adaptation of her first novel, The Country Girls, the beginning of her acclaimed trilogy about young women who leave rural Ireland for what they imagine to be better conditions in the mean streets of big-city Dublin.
“Edna O’Brien is a writer of immense emotional and poetic impact,” said Magic Theatre Artistic Director Chris Smith, who directs Tír Na nÓg. “I’m thrilled to get a chance to work closely with her as she re-imagines such an important work in her career.”
First published nearly 50 years ago in 1960, The Country Girls initially stirred up quite a controversy in Ireland. In a 1995 Lit Chat interview on Salon.com, O’Brien reminisced about how her parish priest called for the townsfolk to burn her book on the church grounds.
The Magic production revisits this seminal work and presents it as a coming-of-age play with rich language, live music, and stage movements designed by acclaimed choreographer and Riverdance founder Jean Butler.
 “Jean Butler is a legend in modern Irish dance and she is going to be an incredible resource as we try to stage this epic work,” Smith said.
O’Brien has added a new character, Singing Woman, to the theatrical version of the story and plans to have the actors sing during performances. Butler’s movement choreography adds Irish style and a modern storytelling approach to this epic tale of young women growing up and wishing for happier lives somewhere else.
In Irish legend, Tír na nÓg is a magical land of eternal youth inhabited mainly by mythical people known as the Sidhe. Also called the land of promise or the island of life, Tír na nÓg is not easy to find. However, those who manage to cross the water to reach it discover a place free of worldly problems where time passes much more slowly and nothing ever ages or dies.
O’Brien’s previous plays at Magic revolve around the lives of women and how strong women handle challenges imposed by families and society. During Magic’s 2003-2004 season, O’Brien’s Triptych premiered to great critical acclaim and proved popular with audiences.
Explore the depths of legend and Irish culture with Edna O’Brien and Magic Theatre. For details about Tír Na nÓg, see February 23 and www.magictheatre.org.
— Claudia Willen
Images:
Magic Theatre Artistic Director Chris Smith
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