The Playboy of the Western World
by
J M Synge
Directed by Mike Rogerson
6th - 13th April 2019
This classic Irish play from 1907 is a favourite to this day for its drama, wit and whimsy.
Christy Mahon is a young man who enters Flaherty's, a tavern on
County Mayo's west coast. He makes an outrageous claim. Despite the
villainous nature of the claim, the townsfolk - particularly the
women - are enraptured by Christy's storytelling abilities and natural charm.
When it was published, Synge's play became both popular and reviled
for its depiction of Irish characters. The lack of a moral voice, and
the fact the characters are more occupied and thrilled with the
controversy rather than with revulsion saw many protest the play's
staging, with riots breaking out at several theatres.
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