The man who used to arrive on stage in a Honda 50 is back at The Gaiety Theatre in April for a limited run of John B Keane’s ‘The Matchmaker’. Back by huge popular demand after a Gaiety run and successful Irish tour last year, Jon alongside Mary McEvoy in the hit play, which is returning for six performances in the Gaiety Theatre, Dublin from April 11 to 16.
Recalling his wide, varied and brilliant career on the Anton Savage Show, Jon says he is delighted with the success of the production and indeed his role, which sees him play a myriad of characters. Though he hasn;t forgotten his comedy roots and he reveals to Anton that he plans to return to the stage for some stand-up solo comedy shows later this year!
‘The Matchmaker’ follows the efforts of Dicky Mick Dicky O’Connor to make matches for the lonely in Co Kerry. But they’re not always a great success...
Mary McEvoy and Jon Kenny in character for 'The Matchmaker' - coming back to the Gaiety Theatre
It’s based on a selection of John B Keane writings, including ‘Letters from a Love Hungry Farmer’ and ‘Letters of a Matchmaker’. Using Keane’s inimitable way with words and his sense of devilment and wit, Jon delves into the longings, hungers, fears and foibles of this collection of lonely county people.
He and Mary create a marvelously colourful world taking us back to a simpler time.
Busy times were recalled during the interview, with the lads touching subjects as diverse as jumping in the sea, barricading audience members up in a toilet, coming on stage in a Honda 50, setting off angle-grinders during live gigs with his old band The Cattledealers Lament with Pat Shortt and Derek O’Sullivan, being banned by Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann, success with the D’Unbelievables, hitting the charts with a reggae version of Spancil Hill and how a dance version of the same song may put him back there!
- THE MATCHMAKER AT THE GAIETY from MONDAY 11 to SATURDAY 16 APRIL
- Tickets from €25 from Gaiety Theatre Box Office and Ticketmaster outlets nationwide
- For more, see gaietytheatre.ie
