March 31

We just spent some backstage time with the Pogues Shane MacGowan and was again reminded of the thought that wewas the Brendan Behan of our time. Actually, Shane has weened himself of at least some bad habits. And, we're all aware, whether we want to say so or not, that some of those bad habits fuel some incredible songwriting. Which leads us to "Brendan Behan: Confessions of an Irish Rebel." Shay Duffin wrote and performs this one man play. He's now in a final stretch - the man's done nearly 7000 performances! - that takes place  Friday March 29 through March 31 at Jimmy Tingle's Off Broadway. When Behan died at 41 in 1964, the London Daily News eulogized him thus: "Too young to die, but too drunk to live." Behan, who spend a quarter of his life in jail, wrote "The Borstal Boy," "The Quare Fellow, "The Big House and "The Hostage." Two Tony awards in that bunch. Duffin's play includes writings and songs of Behan's. And he knew Behan; there paths crossed in Dublin when Duffin was a young man and Behan reaching the end of the line. (Duffin wears Behan's shoes on stage, given to him by Behan's widow Beatrice after she saw him do the show in 1984.) She said, "You do him proud." Duffin says he could have called the play "The Three Phases of Behan," as he designed it to deal with Behan the talker, the pub entertainter and the rebel. Other Duffin bits: He was in the Oscar-winning "The Departed," he sang the National Anthem at Fenway Park on national TV , never having sung it before. And Duffin did this play in Boston for 14 straight months in the '80s at the Charles Playhouse. The play wraps up this run tonight, Saturday at 7:30. Tickets: $$35-$25. (The Burren, also on Elm St. in Davis Square is offering dinner/theater packages. Call 617-776-6896 for details.)

255 Elm St., Somerville, 617-591-1616 jtoffbroadway.com