Portland actor Mark Honan stars in the Portland Stage Company production of ”The Real McGonagall,” on stage in the studio theater beginning at 8 p.m. Friday. The one-man show was to have opened last week, but Honan took ill and opening night was postponed.

Honan portrays Sir William Topaz McGonagall, who on the eve of his return voyage to Scotland decides to recite his outrageously bad poetry at a saloon in New York.

The show is set in a New York barroom in 1887, and is based on the autobiography of McGonagall, who lived from 1825 to 1902 and is considered to be the worst published poet in the history of the English language.

Ron Botting directs.

The play was written by Connecticut playwright Willy Holtzman, who is in town for the opening.

The play previews with performances at 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, opens at 8 p.m. Friday and runs through March 7 with performances at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, 3 and 8 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday. Tickets cost $18 ($15 for students).

The theater is at 25A Forest Ave., Portland. Call 774-0465 or visit www.portlandstage.org.


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