The Year of the Hiker
See photos from the event here
On November 1, 2007, the Abu Dhabi Irish Society proudly presented one of Ireland's most successful amateur theatre groups, Killorglin CYMS Players, in their production of John B. Keane's "The Year of the Hiker" at the Club.
Tickets included a superb dinner with wine and the play, and the play was followed by music by our own Inis Oirr, a talented group of local traditional musicians.
Click here for a flyer (jpg, 120 kb), or a better quality one in PDF (2.5 mb)
Click for a review of the week by one of the travelling players, Aidan O'Connor, in the Kerryman, November 7, 2007
CYMS Killorglin Players
This Killorglin group are one of the most successful amateur drama groups in Ireland, and, remaining true to their Kerry roots, specialize in John B. Keane plays. The group has performed John B. Keane's plays to much acclaim in Ireland, England, New York, Florida, Chicago, Denver, San Francisco, Melbourne and Sydney.
Their website (under construction) and contact details are at http://killorglinhikers.com
John B. Keane – the Author
John B. Keane was born in Listowel, County Kerry, in 1928. He published forty-six works, but is best known for his plays which include Sive; Sharon’s Grave; The Man from Clare; The Year of the Hiker; The Field (which was adapted as a film of the same name starring Richard Harris); Many Young Men of Twenty; Big Maggie; Moll; The Crazy Wall; The Buds of Ballybunion; and The Chastitute. His novels are The Bodhran Makers; Durango; The Contractors; A High Meadow. He has published many books of humourous essays and letters. His biography is Man of the Triple Name.
Keane was a former president of Irish P.E.N., and Honorary Life Member of the Royal Dublin Society. He was awarded a D. Litt from Trinity College Dublin and a Hon. Doc. Fine Arts from Marymount Manhattan College. He was a founder member of the Society of Irish Playwrights. He lived in Listowel, Co Kerry, and died in May 2002.
More from RTE.
The Year of the Hiker
This play, first produced in 1964, tells the peculiar story of man nicknamed The Hiker who returns home looking for forgiveness from the family he walked out on 20 years ago. In the opening scene his son Simey is being urged by no-nonsense Aunt Freda to get ready for his sister’s wedding. Responsible, solid, big brother Joe cuts a sharp contrast to the jokey Simey – they could be father and son. The family’s thoughts slip involuntarily back to the Hiker’s absence and his wife Kate laments that Joe should not have to be giving his sister away. Hardest hit by the departure of The Hiker was Kate who withered in loneliness and shame. Joe recalls the tender patience his father had for him and his devastation at being abandoned by his idol.
Simon, who was only a baby when his dad left, got the chances Joe lost out on – education and the potential to marry. Yet he takes it all for granted and does not appreciate the sacrifices which were made. When The Hiker does eventually show up he sniffs out his selfishness and the weakness of his character straight away. Does he see traces of his earlier self in Simon? The Hiker’s departure rocked the family and it was not just the embarrassment and anger that left such a mark. Towards the end of the play The Hiker points out the close proximity of love and hate. The people who know him – Freda, Kate and Joe – loved him once, so why did he leave?
The late Keane crafted his characters well. This is a beautiful play, with the gags and humor failing to mask the sense of hurt and futile loss of lives not fully lived. The themes of unreliable memory and the limitations of character feature. If only people could control how they acted – not let pride, shyness, cruel flippancy and jealousy guide them.
Praise for the Cast
From The Kingdom newspaper: http://archives.tcm.ie/thekingdom/2007/05/03/story24020.asp
"Something special about Keane plays"
THERE’S always something special about seeing a John B Keane play staged in Kerry by a Kerry drama group.
Is it because Kerry people understand Keane better than most and know where he is coming from?
Yet again, the Killorglin CYMS Players, who specialise in Keane’s work, excelled themselves with their latest production.
Because of public demand, the group had to extend its run of The Year of the Hiker. Director Noel Shanahan got the best out of a cast that included Susan McCarthy, Aidan O’Connor, Carol Ann Fitzgerald, Kathleen Cronin, Peter Byrnes, Edso Crowley and John McCarthy.
The casting was very sharp, in particular that of Crowley as the Hiker Lacey. This man has powerful stage presence and takes over whenever he treads the boards.
Edso, who can hold an audience in the veritable cusp of has hand, really gave a tour de force. He’s the kind of actor you’d be hoping would never leave the stage during a production.
Also full marks to the backroom team for a splendid and authentic set design depicting a country kitchen in the 1950s.
John B’s son, Billy, attended one of the performances and was given a warm welcome by Killorglin drama lovers.
Download graphics here
