Philadelphia, Here I Come!

Philadelphia, Here I Come!, by Irish playwright Brian Friel, was first performed in 1964. It is set in the fictional Irish town of Ballybeg, which also serves as the setting for other Friel plays such as Dancing at Lughnasa. It is intended to symbolise the classic Irish town, implying that the events recounted in the play could take place anywhere. Its main character is Gar O'Donnell, a man in his mid-twenties who is preparing to leave Ballybeg, his hometown, for the United States. However, there are two sides to his character: Public Gar, who the other characters in the play engage with, and Private Gar, who only the audience see. The play recounts the hours before Gar's planned departure for Philadelphia. In particular, it explores his feelings about leaving — particularly through the reflections of Private Gar — and his relationships with those who he will leave behind, which appear more in the interactions of Public Gar. At the start of the play, Private Gar claims to be confident and optimistic about Gar's future in America, predicting that wealth and opportunity lie ahead. But this self-confidence is soon revealed to be a front for a deeper insecurity. Private Gar yearns for a closer relationship with his inexpressive father, S.B., but Public Gar is unable to show vulnerability by admitting this openly. Private Gar also reflects on a relationship that he had with a local woman named Kate. The two had said they would marry, but she had instead been engaged to another man, making Gar feel bitter. Over time, Private Gar's confidence turns to desperation: it is clear that he is leaving to escape his problems at home, not because it is actually what he wants. Public Gar, however, is too proud to admit it. Through the disparity between Gar's inner reflections and outer interactions, Friel explores the complexity of human nature.