Irish playwright Tom Murphy is renowned for his searing themes and experimentation, and The Gigli Play is considered his masterpiece. It primarily concerns the exploits of JPW King, a “dynamatologist” (a cross between a faith healer and a self-help guru). King is visited by the shady self-made businessman known only as The Irish Man, who is desperate to fill a void in his life by singing like the famous opera singer Beniamino Gigli. Their encounters become something of a seesaw, with each man becoming equally dependent on the other for salvation. With its winding language and vibrant characters, the play has a potency that is reminiscent of classic commedia, but is also at times poignantly philosophical.
The Gigli Concert guide sections
