The Playboy Of The Western World

by

John M Synge

Directed by: Edna Garner

21st - 24th January, 1976

The most famous and infamous play by Ireland's best loved (and hated) playwright The Playboy of the Western World, offended audiences when first produced in 1907, on account of its 'immodest' references to Irish womanhood and aroused a prolonged and bitter controversy, which lasted until the author's death in 1909. In the play Christy Mahon stumbles into the Flaherty's tavern claiming to have killed his father. He is praised for his boldness, and he and the barmaid Pegeen fall in love to the dismay of her betrothed, Shawn. The Widow Quin tries to seduce him to no avail, but eventually his father, who was only wounded, tracks Christy to the tavern, and Christy attacks him again. Old Mahon falls, and the townsfold, afraid of being implicated, bind Christy, but he is freed when his father crawls inside. Christy leaves to wander the world with a newfound confidence, and Pegeen laments betraying and losing him.

Christopher Mahon	Kevin Madley
Old Mahon, his father	Joe Crossland
Michael James Flaherty, a publican	Colin Walker
Margaret Flaherty (Pegeen Mike), his daughter	May Seal
Shawn Keogh, her cousin, a farmer	Norman Whitelam
Widow Quinn	Pat Thomas
Prilly Cullen, small farmer	Laurie Kirwin
Jimmy Farrel, small farmer	Rod Holt
Sara Tansey, village girl	Margaret Brocklehurst
Susan Brady, village girl	Beryl Jolley
Kelly, village girl	Evelyn Covell
Honor Blake, village girl	Maisie Pring
A Bellman	Tony Browne
Peasants	Stan Brown Cyril Hines

Stage Manager	Cyril Hines
Set Design	Edna Garner
Set Construction	Harry Outhwaite Stan Brown Cee Willams David Gregson
Decor	David Gregson
Lighting	Rod Holt Mary Gregory
Sound	Tony Browne
Properties	David Green, assisted by Babs Jay
Wardrobe	Joyce Pomfret assisted by May Brown Brenda Jones
Make Up	Edna Garner
Continuity	Liz Crossland
Production Manager	Margaret Brockehurst
Designer	David Gregson
Bagpipes kindly laned for this production by Mr Michael Goodwin of Hazel Grove