 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| This site was designed by VSS Multimedia - part of the VSS Group |
"Someone who'll Watch over Me" by Frank McGuiness
About the play
The three hostages in the play share the same "crime", but beyond that they are as different as the reasons that propelled them to the Middle East. The first character, Adam, an American psychologist in his late 20s, is in the area promoting the welfare of children. The second character, Eddie, is an Irish journalist, also in his 20s, who came to the Middle East seeking the next hot story. Rounding out the trio is Michael, a widower in his 30s, who came to the area to teach Middle English and medieval studies.
The play, which was first performed
in London in 1992 and enjoyed a three-month run on Broadway, was written while
two hostages, Irish teacher Brian Keenan, and English journalist John McCarthy
were imprisoned in Lebanon. It is loosely based on their experiences.
When Keenan saw the play in Dublin in 1994, he said he could not believe the
accuracy of the scenes, even though McGuinness could not have known some of
the details.
 |
 |
 |
It is amazing how when we are faced with the most difficult of circumstances, we find friendship, trust and decency in human beings even when faced with the paradox that it is the human beings ability to hate which has placed these characters in this predicament in the first place. When we strip away the façade that society would impose on us, we find that our basic needs are all the same. We all need to eat, sleep, drink, have shelter and feel safe. I believe that this play explores the idea of trying to feel safe in the most terrifying of circumstances. Not knowing is the most horrible situation for a human being to face. The ability of the imagination can be one of the most uplifting parts of the play, but it can also be the most nightmarish.
The men who endured such suffering have an amazing story to tell. I hope we can do justice to it.
About the Author
Frank McGuinness
Frank McGuinness was born in Buncrana, Co Donegal, in 1953. His plays include
The Factory Girls (1982); Baglady/Ladybag (1985); Observe the Sons of Ulster
Marching Towards the Somme (Dublin, The Abbey Theatre,1985); Innocence (1986);
Carthaginians (1988); Mary and Lizzie (1989); The Bread Man (1990); Someone
Who'll Watch Over Me (1992); and Dolly West's Kitchen (1999). He has adapted
Yerma (Lorca, 1987); Rosmersholm (Ibsen, 1987); Peer Gynt (Ibsen, Dublin,
The Gate Theatre, 1988); Three Sisters (Chekov, 1990); and The Threepenny
Opera (Brecht/Weil, 1991). He has also written for television, including Scout
(BBC, 1987)); and The Hen House (BBC, 1989). His awards include several for
Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme, including The London
Evening Standard Award for Most Promising Playwright; the Prix de l'Intervision
and the Prix de l'Art Critique at the 1990 Prague International Television
Awards for The Hen House. In 1994, Gallery Press published his poetry collection,
Booterstown. A second collection, The Sea With No Ships, is forthcoming. He
is a member of Aosdána and lives in County Dublin.
The Cast
| Leon Bearman as Michael |  |
BA Honours in Acting from GSA Conservatoire..................................................... Theatre: Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me (Guildford, Edinburgh Fringe with Creative First) |
| Ayden Callaghan as Edward |  |
BA Honours in Acting from GSA Conservatoire Theatre:
Someone who’ll
watch over me (Bellerby theatre, Edinburgh Festival 2004 ) |
| Jake Hendriks as Adam |  |
BA Honours in Acting from GSA Conservatoire Theatre: Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me (Guildford, Edinburgh Fringe with Creative First) The Life of Christ (Wintershall) Television: Down To Earth (BBC 2005) Ultimate Force (ITV 2005) |
Producer/Director |
||
| Bruce Guthrie |  |
BA Honours in Acting from GSA Conservatoire Theatre: The Passion (Guildford 2003) Becket (Theatre Royal Haymarket 2004) Television: Shoot the writers (ITV) Directing: Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me (Guildford, Edinburgh Fringe with Creative First) |