Overview
Synopsis
The Playboy of the Western World takes place over two days in the countryside of Ireland. A young man (Christopher “Christy” Mahon) enters, frightened and disheveled. He slowly reveals that he has killed his father - a story which makes him a celebrity in this small village. However, his heroic status is challenged when his murdered father arrives in the village. The Playboy of the Western World not only gives a glimpse into early 20th century Ireland, but also exposes the hypocrisy and danger of idolizing supposed criminals into celebrity status and the public breakdown when the truth is revealed.
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Context
In 1907, theatre-goers rioted in the street outside the Abbey Theatre in Dublin, Ireland – outraged that their culture should be so shamelessly mocked and exploited on the stage. In The Playboy of the Western World, John Millington Synge created an ironic hero and simple Irish peasant-folk who worshipped his storytelling, his criminal exploits, and violated morals and decency. At a time when Ireland was desperate to carve an identity distinct from England and Anglo-Ireland, Irish
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The play opens with Margaret “Pegeen Mike” Flaherty tending to her father’s public house. When he returns with some friends, she chides him for leaving her, imagining what dangers might lurk beyond the front doors. Suddenly, Christopher “Christy” Mahon staggers into Michael James Flaherty’s public-house, frightened and dirty. He is reticent to reveal himself, but after some prodding, Christy tells Pegeen Mike and her father that he has killed his own father, and left him in a ditch. At first
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Character Portrayals
See StageAgent members who have performed roles in The Playboy of the Western World.
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Key Terms
The Abbey Theatre is Ireland’s national theatre, founded in Dublin in 1904 by W.B. Yeats and Lady Augusta Gregory. It became a central hub for Irish cultural identity and the Irish Literary Revival. The theatre continues to promote new Irish plays and dramatists
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Guide Written By:
Cindi Calhoun
Theatre teacher, director, writer, and seamstress