The Keegan Theatre has moved to the Church Street Theatre, in the District, and opened with the Irish classic by John M. Synge, The Playboy of the Western World. The Keegan is dedicated to presenting Irish works and has succeeded in making the dialect understandable, which isn’t always the case elsewhere. We’re told the term “playboy” in Gaelic really means a hoaxer or exaggerator. The author, Synge, is the occasional narrator of the story, played by Mark Adams, who also plays one of the locals, Philly Cullen. Set in a pub in a small village, a young man, Christy, arrives and says he has killed his father. Instead of banishing him, the townsmen, women and especially Pegeen, the daughter of the pub owner, played protectively by Helen Pafumi, see this as an act of bravery. Thus, Christy, played by Carlos Bustamante, becomes the heroic playboy and captures the group’s imagination. Incredibly, a very attractive widow, Mrs. Quinn, who had killed her husband, wanted to take Christy in at her place, but smitten Pegeen wouldn’t allow Chritsy out of her sight. Maggie Bush strikes quite a compelling widow. Things turn south when it is discovered the father is still alive with only a bloody head from Christy’s blow. The father, played by Kevin Adams, has hunted down his son and has a confrontation with him at the pub where Christy hits him again. Christy goes from hero to non-hero and is dismissed. Best version of Playboy I’ve seen in many moons. Keegan’s artistic director Mark Rhea is a master at knowing how to present Irish plays to DC audiences. Playboy of the Western World plays through Mar. 19 at the Church Street Theater, 1742 Church St., NW. Call 703-527-6000 for tickets or visit www.keegantheatre.com.