Faith Healer

The play consists of four parts, with a monologue making up each part. The monologues are given, in order, by Hardy himself; his wife, Grace; his manager, Teddy, and finally Hardy again.{{cite web|url=http://stageagent.com/shows/play/2107/faith-healer|title=Faith Healer (Play) Plot & Characters |website=StageAgent.com|access-date=15 October 2017}}

The monologues tell the story of Hardy, including an incident in a Welsh village in which he cures ten people. Teddy's monologue reveals that Grace dies by suicide, while Hardy ponders whether his gift is real or not. In Hardy’s second monologue, it is suggested that he is beaten to death for his failure to heal a cripple. He says that he knows he will not be able to heal him and, going to face death, he feels a sense of homecoming. From Teddy’s preceding monologue it is made explicit however, that Hardy is actually killed.

Faith Healer received its first performance on 23 February 1979 in Boston in a production directed by José Quintero and starring James Mason, Clarissa Kaye, and Donal Donnelly. The production then opened in New York City at the Longacre Theatre on Broadway"Faith Healer," Playbill, https://www.playbill.com/production/faith-healer-longacre-theatre-vault-0000006886 and closed after twenty performances.{{Cite news |last=Brantley |first=Ben |date=2006-05-05 |title=Ralph Fiennes, Portraying the Gaunt Genius in 'Faith Healer' |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/05/theater/reviews/05heal.html |access-date=2022-09-15 |issn=0362-4331}}{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2238&dat=19790313&id=J05AAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BPUFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2660,1098414|title=Washington Afro-American - Google News Archive Search|website=news.google.com|access-date=15 October 2017}} The first production in Ireland was at the Abbey Theatre in August 1980, in a production by Joe Dowling starring Donal McCann, Kate Flynn and John Kavanagh.{{cite web|url=http://www.abbeytheatre.ie/archives/production_detail/790|title=Abbey Theatre|website=Abbey Theatre|access-date=15 October 2017}} The first London production was at the Royal Court Theatre in March 1981, directed by Christopher Fettes, with Patrick Magee, Helen Mirren and Stephen Lewis.

BBC Radio produced the play with Norman Rodway as Frank, June Tobin as Gracie and Warren Mitchell as Teddy. It was produced by Robert Cooper and broadcast on Radio 3 on 13 March 1980, with a repeat on 18 May 1980.

It was revived in 1983 at the Vineyard Theatre, directed by Dann Florek, with J. T. Walsh, Kathleen Chalfant and Martin Shakar.{{cite web|url=http://www.vineyardtheatre.org/faith-healer/|title=Faith Healer - Written by Brian Friel - Directed by Dann Florek|date=21 February 2013|website=Vineyardtheatre.org|access-date=15 October 2017}} In the same year, William Needles played the title role at the University of California, Irvine. Also in the cast were Mary Anne McGarry and Keith Fowler. The show was revived under the direction of Robert Cohen for a gala presentation to the UCI Theater Guild.

Joe Dowling returned to the play in 1992 at the Royal Court Theatre, London, his production again starring Donal McCann, joined by Sinéad Cusack and Ron Cook to huge acclaim. The critic Sarah Compton remarked that it was "a version so potent that I can look back on it now in vivid, overwhelming detail". Two years later, the production opened at the Long Wharf Theatre, with McCann and Cook. Cusack was sadly unavailable and Judy Geeson took over. The New York Times called the production "incandescent" and recommended it to "any connoisseur of theater".[https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C04E2DC1F31F935A15757C0A962958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all]{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/04/26/theater/review-theater-faith-healer-3-versions-shared-past-vision-memory-s-power.html|title=Review/Theater: Faith Healer; From 3 Versions of a Shared Past, a Vision of Memory's Power|first=Ben|last=Brantley|date=26 April 1994|access-date=15 October 2017|website=The New York Times}}

It was revived in London in 2001 by the Almeida Theatre, in a production by Jonathan Kent. The cast consisted of Ken Stott, Geraldine James and Ian McDiarmid. McDiarmid won the 2001 Critics' Circle Best Actor Award for this role.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2001/nov/30/theatre.artsfeatures1|title=Faith Healer, Almeida, London|first=Michael|last=Billington|date=30 November 2001|access-date=15 October 2017|website=Theguardian.com}}

Jonathan Kent revived the play again for the Gate Theatre in Dublin early in 2006, this time with Ralph Fiennes, Ingrid Craigie and Ian McDiarmid.{{cite web|url=http://irishamerica.com/2006/04/faith-healer/|title=Faith Healer - Irish America|website=irishamerica.com|date=April 2006|access-date=15 October 2017}} This production opened on Broadway at the Booth Theatre on 4 May 2006, with Cherry Jones as Grace. On Broadway it received four Tony Award nominations and won the Best Featured Actor in a Play, Ian McDiarmid.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/05/theater/reviews/05heal.html|title=Faith Healer - Review - Theater|first=Ben|last=Brantley|date=5 May 2006|access-date=15 October 2017|website=The New York Times}}

The Gate Theatre revived the play again in 2009, presenting the play at the Sydney Festival as part of a trio of works being performed to honour the 80th birthday of Friel.{{cite web|url=http://www.gatetheatre.ie/section/ontourgatefrieledinburghfestivallaunch|title=Gate Friel Edinburgh Festival Launch - Gate Theatre, Dublin, Ireland|website=Gatetheatre.ie|access-date=15 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171015202115/http://www.gatetheatre.ie/section/ontourgatefrieledinburghfestivallaunch|archive-date=15 October 2017|url-status=dead}} The other works were The Yalta Game and Afterplay. This production played at the Gate Theatre in Dublin in January 2010. In 2009, it was also staged by Eric Hill at the Unicorn Theatre as part of the Berkshire Theatre Festival in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, with Colin Lane, Kiera Naughton and David Atkins to unanimous acclaim.

In October 2009, Joe Dowling directed the play yet again at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This time Dowling also took on the lead role of Frank Hardy himself.{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.ie/incoming/dowling-takes-centre-stage-26529735.html|title=Dowling takes centre stage|website=Independent.ie|date=18 April 2009 |access-date=15 October 2017}}

In February 2011, it was staged at Bristol Old Vic under the direction of associate director Simon Godwin.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2011/feb/04/faith-healer-review|title=Faith Healer – review|first=Lyn|last=Gardner|date=4 February 2011|website=Theguardian.com|access-date=15 October 2017}}

In June 2016, the play was revived at the Donmar Warehouse by director Lyndsey Turner, with the cast of Stephen Dillane, Gina McKee and Ron Cook, to exceptional reviews.{{Cite web|url=http://www.donmarwarehouse.com/whats-on/donmar-warehouse/at-the-donmar/2016/faith-healer#Rr3A7OjzGR2zPiiK.97|title=Faith Healer - Donmar Warehouse|website=Donmarwarehouse.com|access-date=2016-09-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160915102315/http://www.donmarwarehouse.com/whats-on/donmar-warehouse/at-the-donmar/2016/faith-healer#Rr3A7OjzGR2zPiiK.97|archive-date=15 September 2016|url-status=dead}}

On 22 October 2016, the play opened at Belvoir St Theatre in Sydney, Australia. Directed by Judy Davis with the cast of Colin Friels as Frank, Alison Whyte as Grace, and Pip Miller as Teddy.{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/theatre/faith-healer-review-charismatic-colin-friels-leads-all-to-believe-in-power-of-theatre-20161027-gsc1j8.html|title = Faith Healer review: Charismatic Colin Friels leads all to believe in power of theatre|date = 27 October 2016}} The production was co-presented by Belvoir and the State Theatre Company of South Australia at the Space Theatre in Adelaide in September to October 2018. This time Teddy's role was played by Paul Blackwell,{{cite web | title=Faith Healer | website=AusStage| url=https://www.ausstage.edu.au/pages/event/132715 | access-date=19 November 2023}} who was posthumously awarded a Helpmann Award for Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play for his performance.{{cite web | last=Iannella | first=Antimo | title=Adelaide actor Paul Blackwell wins Helpmann Award for final performance | website= Adelaide Now | date=15 July 2019 | url=https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/entertainment/confidential/adelaide-actor-paul-blackwell-wins-helpmann-award-for-final-performance/news-story/b55e68f871361c2cb382cbfdcd9b76de?nk=baa6a2bf3bd84f59ab474ab7e273a827-1700352528 | access-date=19 November 2023}}{{cite web | last=Marsh | first=Walter | title=Paul Blackwell wins Helpmann Award for final stage role | website=The Adelaide Review | date=15 July 2019 | url=https://www.adelaidereview.com.au/arts/performing-arts/2019/07/15/paul-blackwell-helpmann-awards-2019/ | access-date=19 November 2023}}

An Abbey Theatre production, directed by Joe Dowling and designed by John Lee Beatty, and starring Aidan Gillen as Frank Hardy, Niamh Cusack as Grace and Nigel Lindsay as Teddy, had been planned for early 2020 but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web |url=https://www.abbeytheatre.ie/whats-on/faith-healer/|title=Faith Healer|website=Abbey Theatre|language=en|access-date= 2019-12-31}} However, the Old Vic Theatre livestreamed a five-performance production featuring Michael Sheen as Frank Hardy, with David Threlfall and Indira Varma, in September 2020.{{Cite web|title=Old Vic: In Camera – Faith Healer |url=https://www.oldvictheatre.com/whats-on/2020/old-vic-in-camera/faith-healer|access-date=2020-09-18|website=The Old Vic|language=en}} The Abbey Theatre production was rescheduled for November 2020 and still starring Gillen, Cusack and Lindsay, with Cusack and Lindsay receiving Irish Times Theatre Awards nominations.{{Cite news |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/stage/the-irish-times-irish-theatre-awards-and-the-nominees-are-1.4859263|access-date=30 April 2022|title=Irish Times Theatre Awards 2020/21|newspaper=The Irish Times }}

In 2023 London Classic Theatre launched a UK tour of the play, directed by Michael Cabot. The production starred Paul Carroll as Frank Hardy, Gina Costigan as Grace, and Jonathan Ashley

as Teddy."London Classic Theatre Announce Faith Healer Cast." Theatre Weekly. Accessed August 8, 2023. https://theatreweekly.com/london-classic-theatre-announce-faith-healer-cast/. Select tour venues included New Vic Theatre, Theatr Clwyd, Malvern Theatres, The Lighthouse, Theatre Royal, Cambridge Arts Theatre, Hawk's Well Theatre, Millennium Forum, Middlesbrough Theatre, Lichfield Garrick Theatre, Devonshire Park Theatre, and Connaught Theatre."Faith Healer – Tour Archive." UK Theatre Web. Accessed February 16, 2025. https://www.uktw.co.uk/archive/Tour/Play/Faith-Healer/T069637287/.

In 2024 the play had its premiere in Vienna, Austria, in an [https://www.openhousetheatre.at/ Open House Theatre] production, starring [https://alanburgon.com/ Alan Burgon] as Frank Hardy, Anne Marie Sheridan as Grace and Brian Hatfield as Teddy. It was directed by Owen Lindsay.{{Cite web |title=Open House Theatre {{!}} Stories Worth Telling |url=https://www.openhousetheatre.at/season/faith-healer |access-date=2024-03-14 |website=www.openhousetheatre.at}}{{Cite web |date=2024-03-14 |title=Unreliable Miracles: "Faith Healer" |url=https://viennacultgram.com/2024/03/14/unreliable-miracles-faith-healer/ |access-date=2024-03-14 |website=ViennaCultgram |language=en-GB}}

A new production at The Lyric Hammersmith in London, directed by Rachel O’Riordan, ran from March-April 2024. Frank was played by Declan Conlon, Grace by Justine Mitchell, and Teddy by Nick Holder. {{Cite web |url=https://lyric.co.uk/shows/faith-healer |access-date=2024-04-13|title=Faith Healer}}

In January 2025, the play was staged for six performances at the King's Arms in Salford. Former Bolton Octagon Artistic Director, David Thacker directed the play, with Colin Connor playing Frank, Vicky Binns portraying Grace and Rupert Hill as Teddy.

{{Reflist}}

• Friel, Brian, Faith Healer. London, Faber, 1980.
• Billington, Michael, "Faith Healer", review of production at the Almeida Theatre, The Guardian, 30 November 2001.
• Fricker, Karen, "Faith Healer", review of production at the Gate Theatre, The Guardian, 9 February 2006.
• Brantley, Ben, "Ralph Fiennes, Portraying the Gaunt Genius in 'Faith Healer'", The New York Times, 5 May 2006.

• {{cite journal|last1=Price|first1=Graham|title=Memory, narration and spectrality in Brian Friel's Faith Healer and Frank McGuinness's Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme|journal=Irish Studies Review|date=13 December 2014|volume=23|issue=1|pages=33–47|doi=10.1080/09670882.2014.986930|s2cid=171002972}}

• [http://www.mangkukulam.com/folklore/378/Faith%20Healing: Filipino Folklore: Faith Healer]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20060819235029/http://www.ibdb.com/show.asp?ID=3434 Faith Healer at Internet Broadway Database]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20050826223311/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/92054.html Details on 2006 Broadway production]
• [https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/theatre/faith-healer-review-charismatic-colin-friels-leads-all-to-believe-in-power-of-theatre-20161027-gsc1j8.html Faith Healer at Belvoir]

{{Brian Friel}}

Category:1979 plays

Category:Broadway plays

Category:Plays by Brian Friel