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Now it's Roy Keane . . . the musical
Conrad Astley23/ 2/2006
IT was a moment of huge importance in Irish history, and an
issue which divided the nation.
The moment the national football team's captain Roy Keane walked
out on the eve of the 2002 World Cup, following a bust-up with
manager Mick McCarthy, split the country down the middle.
Now, the events surrounding the famous departure have found their
way onto the stage.
I, Keano, which tells those events in the form of a musical, is
opening at The Lowry next week, following a hugely successful run
in Ireland - playing at the midfielder's home town of Cork, as well
as in Kerry, and for 13 weeks at the Dublin Olympia.
Co-writer Arthur Matthews said he was in no doubt about why it had
caught the country's imagination.
"It's something that everyone here had an opinion about," he said.
"It was something that completely divided the country like a civil
war, and everyone here had something to say about it."
But Matthews, who was also one of the writers behind Father Ted,
was playing his cards close to his chest over the issue of which
side he allied himself to - Keanite or McCarthyite.
"Even though it's four years ago, I think it's best if I keep
quiet," he said.
The story of Keane's departure from Saipan following a row over
facilities and preparations may seem an odd choice for a
musical.
But Matthews has gone one better, switching the location from
modern day Japan and South Korea to Ancient Rome. In his version of
the story, an ancient federation sends a legion, led by General
Macartacus, to prepare for war.
But the general's greatest warrior, Keano - known for his fiery
temper - is enraged when he finds the troops partying in the
build-up to battle.
Thrown into this are references to former Republic of Ireland
goalkeeper Packy Bonner, Irish broadcaster and Keane biographer
Eamon Dunphy - portrayed as a tap-dancing wood nymph - and of
course the midfielder's other former boss, Sir Alex Ferguson.
"The Roman setting just seemed to lend itself to the story,"
Matthews said. "It makes it look even more silly, but it also gives
it a kind of drama.
"I'm not a huge expert on ancient tragedies but the idea of it
being set in a war, where there's a well meaning general who can't
control his errant but brilliant best warrior, seemed to fit.
"Ancient tragedies are all about one man's own ego and pride being
the cause of his own downfall."
It is, of course, no coincidence that the production receives its
UK debut just a few hundred yards from Old Trafford.
But Matthews says there was a slight problem with timing here, as
they had booked the show before another of Keane's famous bust-ups
saw him leave United for Glasgow Celtic.
"When this was booked in we didn't foresee the problems Roy and Sir
Alex would have," he said. "It was booked in under the assumption
that he'd still be doing his thing there.
"But I'm sure he'll remain a cult figure in Manchester, like Eric
Cantona."
The writer said there were plans to take the show up to Glasgow,
joking that if they were to follow Keane around he hoped the
player's next move would be to Real Madrid.
But while the play deals with a specifically Irish story, Matthews
said he thought it would appeal to non-Irish sports fans, and even
people who didn't follow football at all.
"I wouldn't like it to be just for Irish people to come and see,"
he said. "But for the football community in general. We're hoping
to remove some of the Irish references. I think people who aren't
necessarily big football fans will appreciate it - it's very light
hearted, it's a bit like panto."
While the show became far bigger than its writers had first
assumed, it gathered its fair share of headlines and celebrity
fans.
And, according to Matthews, it even got the thumbs-up from one
well-known footballer.
"Keane's parents went to see it in Cork, but he saw it in Dublin,"
he said.
"He stayed around, chatted to the cast and was by all accounts very
gracious. If he had been hugely embarrassed and embittered about it
then I'm sure he would've let us know."
I, Keano runs from Tuesday (February 28) until March
11.
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