What did the little boy call out to "Shoeless Joe Jackson" as the great baseball star left a Grand Jury hearing after a sensational scandal involving match fixing during the 1919 Baseball World Series? He said - "Say it ain't so Joe." The adored leading hitter with the Chicago Whitesox was later indicted and fell from grace.
The young boy, has inspired two east Cork brothers to collaborate on a musical which will be premiered at the Everyman Palace Theatre in Cork on December 8th next. "Say It Ain't so Joe," - that's the title of the musical, naturally - is now in the final stages of rehearsal. It will tell the story of that wide-eyed youngster - wide-eyed because of the astonishing possibility that his hero could have been involved in something underhand.
The brothers Ryan, John and Martin, from Midelton, have already worked together on a musical - "November 23rd" - based on the Kennedy dynasty in American politics. It was staged for the first time in Waterford last year. And there is some excitement at the news that their second offering has been invited to the `Man in the Moon Theatre' in London for the New Year.
John is a professional musician who works here and in the UK. He has been associated with many Irish bands as well as with Son Records - the offshoot of U2's Mother Label. His brother, Martin, is a first-time, unpublished novelist when he is not teaching mathematical studies in Youghal, Co Cork. Martin works on plot and dialogue, John, on music and lyrics. "Say in Ain't so Joe" should be worth a visit.
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Readers who wish to contact Dick Hogan can leave messages at: 01-6707711, extension 6297.