A ONE-act play by Eugene O Neill, which has not been seen in Britain for 30 years, is being performed in the Abbey Theatre Studio in St Albans next week. Irrational Theatre is putting on Hughie, performed by Keith Davey and Lew Hodges. It is set in 1920s

A ONE-act play by Eugene O'Neill, which has not been seen in Britain for 30 years, is being performed in the Abbey Theatre Studio in St Albans next week.

Irrational Theatre is putting on Hughie, performed by Keith Davey and Lew Hodges. It is set in 1920s New York and presents an hour where the audience comes to know the life of the two characters as contact between them is formed and warmth is generated by their fragile human souls.

Among many themes, the play deals with the exploration of the human spirit and ability to be optimistic even in the face of adversity.

O'Neill had many masterpieces among his output of 46 plays, including The Iceman Cometh and A Long Day's Journey into Night.

Hughie was first performed in Stockholm in 1958, five years after O'Neill's death.

It received a notable revival in 1996 with Al Pacino but has not been seen in Britain for three decades.

Directed by Gerard Smith, it runs from next Tuesday (19) until Saturday and tickets at �8.50 with concessions �7.50 are available from the Abbey Theatre box office on 01727 857861 or online at www.abbeytheatre.org.uk

Performances are at 8pm except on Friday when they are at 7.30pm and 9.15pm.