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I went to see "Brendan at the Chelsea"Ìý recently, the play written by Brendan Behan's niece and directed by, and staring, Adrian Dunbar. It is so funny. IÌýlaughed so much, I actually snorted, (apologies to the man sitting beside me, who I think I startled!).Ìý

While Dunbar doesn't "look" like Behan, he inhabits him.Heavy laboured breathing, sudden mood swings, sparkling wit and energy that only an alcoholic in search of his next drink can muster. He is superb.ÌýSet in the infamous Chelsea Hotel in New York Ìýduring Behan’s second visit to New York, it was to be his lastÌýtime.ÌýÌýHe died a few months later.

I saw Adrian in the Lyric a few days later, he was coming in for the Sunday matinee, but going to pop in and see the preview of "Dockers" just before.ÌýI thought I should tell him how good I thought he was.ÌýHe was saying some people had been disappointed that there wasn't mention of Behan's Republicanism.ÌýI said it deserved to be seen wider afield.ÌýWith the Tricycle in London having an Irish season this summer (Billy Roche's "Lay me down SoftlyÌý"and Owen McCafferty's "The Absence of Women"), surely "Behan at the Chelsea" would be ideal for their audience? Apaprently someone from the Tricycle has been over to the Lyric to see it. Watch this space.

Anyhow, there we were, having a great old chat about Behan etc when my 3 year old came up and said loudly thatÌýshe wantedÌýto go to the toilet. "You better go" said Adrian. So we exited stage left.