Each week the expert staff of the renowned Drama Book Shop in Manhattan, just seconds away from Broadway, recommends one book or play that's new, interesting, or just flat-out fantastic. Picking the best of published work, they help keep us up to date and aware of the little known, broadening our horizons, and encouraging dialogue. Order a play from The Drama Book Shop, read it, and e-mail them with your thoughts–they'd love to hear from you: info@dramabookshop.com.
THIS WEEK'S PICK:
The Complete Plays of John Millington Synge
by John Millington Synge
This collection of so-called peasant plays by J. M. Synge offers the reader a language that is sweeter than any nut. Writing in the tongue of the Irish peasant, Synge offers us poetry that, when spoken, will tantalize each and every palate.
In Riders To The Sea a one-act written in 1904 and possibly one of the finest tragedies ever produced, we deal with an issue all too common to the West of Ireland, loss of life at sea. A mother and her two daughters struggle to save their brother from the same fate which has claimed the lives of three generations of strong men.
Synge’s masterpiece The Playboy of the Western World was written in 1907. When first presented by the Abbey players it sparked riots among Irish patriots who were very sensitive to its bitter humor. The story tells of Christopher Mahon, a young man from the south, who flees from home after killing his dad. 'Christy,' as he’s called, enjoys new found celebrity status as the man who killed his father among the women of the town — until an unexpected visitor arrives, throwing the whole thing up in the air.
Synge’s bitter humor was also to be heard in The Well of the Saints and In the Shadow of the Glen, the latter being a one-act comedy written in 1903. His later work The Tinkers Wedding was never produced for fear of further riots while Deirdre of the Sorrows remained unfinished due to the untimely death of the author at the age of only thirty eight.
Scenes/Monologues: Great material for older actresses.
Recommended by: Muiris.
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This volume includes the complete texts of all the plays by J. M. Synge. Produced at the Abbey Theater which Synge founded. Represents one of the major dramatic achievements of the 20th century. |
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