Overview

Synopsis

It is truly a dark and stormy night in County Wicklow when a Tramp, seeking shelter from the wind and rain, knocks on the door of the loneliest cottage in Glen Malure, and finds himself at an impromptu wake. Dan Burke, aged and cranky, has died suddenly, but not before laying a curse on his younger wife, Nora, that no one is to touch his body or prepare him for laying out except his sister, who lives an inconvenient distance away. As Nora entertains the Tramp with her husband’s whiskey and pipe, and the two keep company and share stories about, and against, the dark night and fear of the unknown, the Tramp comes to realize that not all was well in this isolated cottage.… especially when, during Nora’s brief absence, Dan reveals to the startled Tramp that he is not dead at all, but waiting to catch his friendly wife misbehaving with a man. Enter Micheal Dara, a young and confident neighboring herd, with an eye to marrying the young widow and acquiring her property, and Dan’s suspicions seem confirmed. But Nora’s unhappy ending may be her ticket to freedom. John Millington Synge’s classic In the Shadow of the Glen is a dark, poetic comedy, a meditation on time, loneliness, and personal freedom.

Show Information

Book
John Millington Synge
Category
Play
Age Guidance
Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
Number of Acts
1
First Produced
1903
Genres
Drama, Dark Comedy
Settings
Period, Simple/No Set, Unit/Single Set
Time & Place
An isolated cottage, Glen Malure, County Wicklow, Ireland, Nighttime, 1900s, 1890s
Cast Size
small
Licensor
None/royalty-free
Ideal For
College/University, Community Theatre, Ensemble Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Small Cast, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Mature Adult, Elderly, Young Adult Characters

Context


Plot


Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Micheal Dara

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Nora Burke

Supporting

Female

Spoken

Tramp

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Daniel Burke

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Songs

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A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.

Monologues

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Scenes

All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners. Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Key Terms

    Abbey Theatre

    Ireland’s national theatre, known for launching Irish drama and promoting national identity through performance.

    Dark Comedy

    A genre that combines elements of humor and morbidity, exploring serious themes through satire or irony.

    One-Act

    A short play presented in a single act without intermission, ideal for festivals, student productions, or concise storytelling.

    Public Domain

    Works not protected by copyright and available for free use or adaptation. Many classical plays, including Shakespeare's, fall into the public domain.

Videos

Quizzes

Themes, Symbols & Motifs

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Quote Analysis

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Guide Written By:

Eleanor Cohn-Eichner

Eleanor Cohn-Eichner