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Dakota Midday: 'A Couple Of Blaguards'

Black Hills Playhouse

The two-man show, A Couple of Blaguards, is based on the real-life adventures of brothers Frank and Malachy McCourt. It takes them from an impoverished childhood in Limerick, Ireland to their immigration to Brooklyn in the 1950s. The play is a comedic remembrance based in the Irish storytelling tradition, but it also has a poignant edge. Frank and Malachy McCourt first put together the show in the 1980s, and many of the anecdotes later appeared in Frank McCourt’s Pulitzer Prize-winning memoir, Angela’s Ashes, and Malachy McCourt’s memoir, A Monk Swimming. Frank McCourt passed away in 2009.

The Black Hills Playhouse is featuring a special production of A Couple of Blaguards starring two playhouse alums, Jeff Kingsbury as Frank McCourt and Graham Thatcher as Malachy McCourt. It’s directed by Anna Marie Thatcher. The production is a special fundraising show produced by the Black Hills Playhouse Alumni Association to raise money to upgrade the electrical systems in the theater. There’s a reception for Malachy McCourt at the playhouse on Saturday afternoon.

Graham Thatcher, Anna Marie Thatcher and  Malachy McCourt joined Dakota Midday and discussed the production.

For more information, visit the Black Hills Playhouse website here.

Karl was born to northeastern South Dakota crouton farmers, but was orphaned as a toddler during the Great Salad War (1966-67). Rescued by a flock of chickadees, he grew up in the woodlands of Sica Hollow. Legends of a bird boy living in the trees attracted the interest of renowned ornithologist and amateur bandoneon repairman Dr. Vogel Gehrke. With a handful of suet, Dr. Gehrke coaxed the timid boy down from the trees. He adopted him, named him Karl and taught him not to molt on the carpet. Dr. Gehrke’s book, The Bird Boy of Sica Hollow, was a best seller and Karl became a minor celebrity and teen idol. He appeared as a guest star on numerous television programs, most notably an awkward role on The Love Boat as the boyfriend of Captain Stubing’s daughter, Vicki. After critics panned his 1980 album, Bird Boy Does Disco, Karl retreated from public life and returned to Sica Hollow. Living in an isolated tree house, Karl achieved a reputation as a mystic. Pilgrims and seekers from around the world came to ask him about the meaning of life and for vinaigrette recipes. Growing tired of answering questions, he climbed down from his tree, shaved his massive white beard and took a job as the host of SDPB Radio’s Dakota Midday where he could ask the questions instead. After three years in that position, he ran out of questions and became host of Jazz Nightly instead. Karl makes his home in Vermillion with his charming wife Kari and three delightful children, Kodey, Kasey and Spatula. His hobbies include reciting the alphabet, combing his hair and doing volunteer work with delinquent songbirds.
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