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 |
|