Description

John Misto’s play, Harp on the Willow, is the incredible true story of Mary O’Hara, the internationally famous Irish singer and harpist who entered an enclosed order of nuns after the death of her husband.

When a destitute alcoholic, Kane, descends on the convent, he turns Mary’s calm life into chaos. Since the nuns are not allowed to see visitors, Mary can only talk to Kane through a grille. Unaware of Mary’s real identity, Kane turns her world upside down with his wildly unorthodox approach to life.

Harp is the story of their feisty relationship. It is filled with songs, drama and humour as these two unusual people transform each other’s lives.

In Mary’s twelve-year absence from the world, she has become a folk-music legend. Now Mary must make a choice — to remain in the convent or return to the world.