Joe Dowling plays Frank Hardy in "The Faith Healer" at the Guthrie. / Star Tribune photo by Elizabeth Flores

Well-known theater critic Fintan O'Toole visited the Twin Cities recently to see the new Guthrie Theater and interview fellow Irishman Joe Dowling, who is appearing on stage in playwright Brian Friel's "The Faith Healer."

In O'Toole's lengthy profile, Dowling reveals that "there is a very, very shy part of me," and adds that "I'm constantly playing a part, the part of a more confident man."

Dowling talks about his longtime association with Friel and his plays, and about actor Donal McCann's legendary portrayal of Frank Hardy in "The Faith Healer." Dowling appears as Hardy in the play, with co-stars Sally Wingert and Raye Birk, through Dec. 6.

Read the complete Irish Times story here.

Read the Star Tribune review of the play here.

See Joe Dowling talk about the Friel play in a video here.