After Anton Chekhov
Cast: Risteard Cooper & Rebecca O’Mara

The Yalta Game is based on a theme in one of the greatest short stories ever written, Chekhov’s The Lady with the Lapdog.

The play tells the story of an accountant who holidays alone, leaving his wife and family behind in Moscow. While away, he plays a game of amorous dalliance and seduction, and happens on a young wife with her pet dog. They have a brief affair and part forever. But back home, they both find themselves obsessed by reveries and meet again to embark on a self destructive path of duplicity, ecstasy and perhaps love.

Brian Friel unravels a thread of Chekhov’s original and weaves it afresh into a startling tapestry of longings and resolutions.

Presented in association with Parade Theatres


ON THE GATE | FRIEL SEASON

On 9 January 2009, Brian Friel, Ireland’s greatest living playwright, will celebrate his 80th birthday. In recognition of this, the Gate Theatre Dublin will produce a very special season of works by Friel to celebrate this significant anniversary. Sydney Festival is delighted to welcome back the Gate, who last visited in 2007 with the acclaimed Beckett Festival.

Credited with changing the face of modern Irish theatre, Brian Friel is a tragi-comedian who, over the course of a long and prestigious career, has explored the Irish psyche with unmatched insight and razor sharp wit. Recurrent in Friel’s work is his evocation on the spirit of place and the ever shifting shadows of language and meaning.

Friel’s career as a writer spans nearly 50 years and encompasses many genres including short stories, original stage plays and adaptations. Before turning to playwriting, Friel attended a Catholic seminary, worked as a schoolteacher for ten years, and published several short stories in The New Yorker.

The Gate has a long and rich association with Brian Friel, premiering many of his plays over the past 45 years.

The Gate Friel season is presented in association with Culture Ireland.

Also playing as part of the Gate | Friel Season are Faith Healer and Afterplay.

The film adaptation of Brian Friel's Dancing at Lughnasa is screened as part of Festival Flicks.

FOOD AND DRINK AT THE PARADE THEATRES DURING THE GATE | FRIEL SEASON
The bar will be open an hour prior to each performance, serving light meals, confectionary and hot and cold beverages. The café at NIDA will be open Mon-Fri 9am-4pm and Sat-Sun 10am-2pm.

EAT DRINK TALK ART
Tue 27 Jan - Gate | Friel
Michael Colgan, Director of Dublin’s Gate Theatre, and performers from the company discuss the Gate’s special relationship with the works of Brian Friel, Ireland’s greatest living playwright, with Festival Director Fergus Linehan.
For more info on the Eat Drink Talk Art series, click here.

PHOTO: BOBBIE HANVEY

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WHAT THE PRESS SAID

"A beautifully judged miniature masterpiece ... more" - Daily Telegraph (UK)

"His [Friel's] contribution to Irish theatre over a period of 45 years has been immense...more" - The Independent

“As masterly a dramatist as the theatre possesses.” - The Times

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COMMENTS

Lise Hearns 16/12/08

Would it be possible to get a full cast list of all three Gate productions? Many thanks, Lise. :)

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David Needham 20/01/09

surprisingly light and witty, yet dealing with the most basic of our instincts. Minimalist set focusses you on the dialogue. Beautifully acted - esp by Risteard Cooper. Short - but worth it

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Paul Akhurst 21/01/09

The Yalta Game (3.0/5) 20th January 2009 Friel's wonderfully descriptive monologues paint the scene in Yalta allowing the two illicit lovers to inhabit an almost bare stage. The Irish lilt has a nice ring; at times one feels party to a private conversation over a pint of Guinness. Excepting the start and end when the link between audience and actor was not quite there. At 50 minutes, enjoy a glass of wine beforehand, a light super afterwards and have a pleasant evening.

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Mary Tang 01/02/09

After seeing After Play I was unable to leave the theatre so bought a ticket to this play and spent the two hours' interval savouring those superb performances. The Yalta Game was the perfect morsel to ease my hunger for MORE. Superb. Cooper's charisma charms the audience. No wonder he got the girl. O'Mara is beautiful and gave a enjoyable performance. If I had not become too tired after watching 8 hours of the War of Roses in the previous two days I would have stayed for Faith Healer.

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