This classic three-act play by Irish playwright John Millington Synge 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 claims to have murdered his own father by striking him with a loy; a type of Irish spade. Despite the villainous nature of the deed itself, the townsfolk - particularly the women - are enraptured by Christy's storytelling abilities and natural charm. Using his charisma and newfound notoriety, Christy ...
Read More
This classic three-act play by Irish playwright John Millington Synge 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 claims to have murdered his own father by striking him with a loy; a type of Irish spade. Despite the villainous nature of the deed itself, the townsfolk - particularly the women - are enraptured by Christy's storytelling abilities and natural charm. Using his charisma and newfound notoriety, Christy romances the tavern owner's daughter Pegeen, and a series of other women within the town. He also continues to impress and enchant the locals by competing in and winning a donkey race with the least athletic creature in the entire area. However, Christy's popularity is severely dented when his father - who in actuality was only wounded - arrives at the scene. When it was published in 1907, 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 revulsed by the would-be murderer saw many protest the play's staging, with riots breaking out at several theatres. However, with time The Playboy of the Western World has become lauded as a classic of Irish drama and wit. Adaptations have duly been filmed for television and the big screen, and theatrical stagings are frequent in Ireland and the wider world.
Read Less
Add this copy of The Playboy of the Western World to cart. $46.51, good condition, Sold by Bonita rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Hialeah, FL, UNITED STATES, published 2016 by CreateSpace Independent Publis.
I saw ?The Playboy of the Western World? in New York and it definitely helps to read the story ahead of time. Is Christy Mahon a hero or a villain for killing his father? He is first praised and then vilified for the crime, making you believe that it?s the fault of his society that places him in such an awkward position. Everyone is shaken by Christy?s entrance into their lives, as he stirs up the small community.
The language of the play immediately transports us to another shore, while being easy to follow. The play is a study in humor, excitement and, oddly enough, love, as we witness the growing affection between a bar maid and a rogue who possesses little more than boldness and a sly tongue.
