We saw Flanagan as he always was on Friday nights -- out cold. But, this past Friday, he was face up.

That's the premise for the audience-interactive production of "Flanagan's Wake" now playing at the Miramar Theater, 2844 N. Oakland Ave. Set in a pub in the fictional Irish town of Grapplin, colorful "locals" (actors) gather with audience members (friends, family and "American cousins that crossed the pond") to tell tales, sing songs and mourn the passing of the late, much-loved Flanagan at his wake.

Each audience member is welcomed into the setting by adding a "Patrick" or "Mary" to his or her name upon entering the pub, and encouraged to grab a Guinness or Harp from one of the setting's two bars, which remain fully operational throughout the hour-and-45-minute performance.

On a modest set mostly comprised of a piano and a reflection pew sits Flanagan's coffin -- a large wooden shipping crate sealed at the top and a "this end up" logo pointing in the direction where Flanagan will soon be laid to rest.

Though the casket was sealed, the crate-like coffin did little to prevent Flanagan's fiancée, Fiona Finn, engaged to Flanagan for 30 years, from mounting her deceased's casket and having a go.

Joining Fiona Finn at the wake was Flanagan's mother, with whom she was at odds with for 30 years as Flanagan's fiancée and through the duration of the performance.

Generalizations of the Emerald Isle were in abundance at "Flanagan's Wake," where audience members actually witnessed one of the little green men. Rounding out the production's cast was Irish Catholic priest, Father Fitzgerald, a stereotypical staple for an Irish comedy, and the town's mayor/bartender.

Remarkably, the show stayed its course through skirmishes, singing, dancing and telling tales by sticking to somewhat of a storyline surrounding Flanagan's will. About half of the performance was improvised, soliciting abstract topic areas from audience members, spinning complex tales and even injecting stories with bits of local current events. In fact, at one point, one of the actors was charged with delivering a rhyming song that included the phrases "over-budget Calatrava museum" and "faculty from Bayview High School."

The show, which opened here in July, has been gaining popularity. Last Friday's performance held about 150 of Flanagan's closest friends who joined in renditions of Irish classics such as "Danny Boy" and "Tura Lura Lura."

On any given mournful day, the Miramar can accommodate more than 300 audience members. There have also been some repeat wake-attendees, because the show changes based on the information supplied by audience members. The only way to discover Flanagan's tragedy of the day is to attend the wake and see what the cast and audience members can dream-up.

First developed and produced by Chicago-based Noble Fool Theatre Co. in 1994, "Flanagan's Wake" is one of the longest running comedies in Windy City history, enjoying 10 consecutive sold-out seasons. "Flanagan's Wake" has already been performed in several cities across the country, including Detroit, Los Angeles and Minneapolis, and is currently running in Milwaukee, Chicago and Cleveland. The Milwaukee production pulls from local talent to provide the blarney.

Flanagan's Wake is running as an open-ended engagement with five performances each week. Tickets range from $28 to $33 and can be purchased by calling the box office at (414) 967-0302.