Madam, - Having recently seen Brian O'Byrne in Doubt on Broadway in one of his last appearances in New York, I was interested to read in the Irish Times Magazine that he was now back in Ireland. The show on Broadway was a huge success and I am glad to have seen it.
Last week I went to Bewley's Theatre at lunchtime to see Hughie by Eugene O'Neill, starring Des Cave and Michael Judd. As it turns out Michael Judd is also recently returned from New York where he worked in many theatres.
Having enjoyed Hughie over a bowl of very decent soup (included in the price of €14) I made my way to the Abbey's matinee production of Homeland by Paul Mercier. A seat in the front row cost a mere €15. The play is a very exciting piece of theatre and I couldn't help thinking, after seeing two great plays in about three hours, what a wonderful and vibrant theatre scene we have in Ireland. Maybe we expect theatre to be wonderful in New York (albeit at five times the price), but I wonder if we appreciate what we have on our doorstep. - Yours, etc,
MARTHA WOODCOCK, Kells Road, Kilkenny.