Irish classic filled with lyricism, rustic charm

THE PLAYBOY OF THE WESTERN WORLD, Pioneer Theatre Company, Simmons Pioneer Memorial Theatre, through April 12 (581-6961). Running time: two hours, 10 minutes (one intermission).

Playwright John Millington Synge (pronounced "sing") was a stickler for authenticity when creating his genuine, rustic Irish peasants. As with the thick Cockney dialects that get Prof. Henry Higgins' dander up, the dense Irish brogues in "Playboy of the Western World" will have you checking the glossary, conveniently found on Page 10 of Pioneer Theatre Company's playbill.

For the uninitiated, seeing this rarely produced classic for the first time, the best approach may be similar to your first plunge into the deep end of Shakespeare — just go with the flow and the rhythm of the lyrical dialogue, and let the performers' actions help carry the story.

Up front, the "playboy" in this 96-year-old work has nothing whatsoever to do with Hugh Hefener or the long-shuttered chain of "bunny" clubs. There's no centerfold in the playbill.

In Synge's day, a "playboy" was seen as something of a daredevil, or a person who takes nothing seriously.

That's the adventurous stranger — strapping young Christopher Mahon ("Christy" to his friends) — who happens to wander into Michael James Flaherty's slightly run-down pub in a tiny, remote village in County Mayo.

For most of the folks in town, there's not much in the way of any excitement (except when someone's goats get loose).

So when the tired, bedraggled Christy comes through the door — certain that the police are on his tail — he creates quite a stir. He claims to have slain his mean, domineering father with a shovel. And as the word spreads around, he embellishes his tale with every retelling.

Language difficulties aside, guest-director John Going has a cast that delivers some fine performances — especially Tommy Schrider as the charming Christy and Patricia Dalen (think Maureen O'Hara 40 years ago) as the tempestuous Pegeen Mike, daughter of the pub's owner.

Three longtime PTC favorites — Max Robinson, Robert Peterson and Richard Mathews — are perfectly cast as, respectively, the tavern's proprietor and two delightful cronies who frequent the place.