I, Keano recounts battle of Saipan

THEY think it’s all over ... well it’s only just begun. I, Keano, the musical show of Roy Keane’s infamous Saipan row with Mick McCarthy, opens at Dublin’s Olympia Theatre from next Tuesday, February 8 until February 19.

However, with box office sales described as healthy, it's possible extra performances may be added.

"Tickets have been moving really quickly since they went on sale in mid-January," an Olympia Theatre spokesperson said yesterday.

"It is scheduled to run until February 19, but it looks likely that might be extended because sales have been so good," she said.

Maybe Roy himself will turn up. The Irish squad has been invited but has yet to decide whether to attend. The players will be in Dublin on Tuesday ahead of their friendly with Portugal the following night.

The Irish rugby team will take a break from training between Six Nations games on opening night, at which ex-Boyzone lads Ronan Keating and Keith Duffy are also guests.

The show may have been boosted by the appearance of co-writer Arthur Mathews who rose to fame through his Father Ted scripts and some of the cast members on RTE's Tubridy Tonight programme last Saturday night.

Heading the toga-clad cast in the role of Keane is Today FM's Mario Rosenstock. He was an obvious choice for the part, given his popular impressions of the star as Radio Roy on Ian Dempsey's Today FM breakfast show.

Along with members of the Après Match crew, Risteard Cooper and Gary Cooke, other cast members include Tara Flynn from the Nualas, Dessie Gallagher, Malachy McKenna, Joe Taylor and Paul McGlinchey.

Set in ancient Rome, the musical was co-written by Mathews and author of the Dear John books, Michael Nugent.

Paul Woodfull wrote the lyrics and Peter Sheridan directs.

The general is Macartacus, aided by Quinnus, who builds children's hospitals. It also stars Packie Bonnerus and Keano's advisors, Scottish dolphin god Fergie, and tap-dancing wood nymph Dunphia.

In a satirical take on the events of summer 2002, warrior Keano arrives on the battlefield only to find the ground too hard and his fellow warriors partying. An argument ensues with Macartacus and, well, the rest is history.