Overview

Synopsis

The second of Sean O’Casey’s Dublin plays, Juno and the Paycock tells the story of the Boyle family in the grim slums of Dublin in the early 1920s. Juno, the mother of the family (and the only member who works), desperately tries to hold her family together in the face of adversity and misfortune. However her husband, Jack Boyle, would rather spend his time drinking with his persuasive pal, Joxer, than try to look for work and help the family. When Jack learns that the family is to come into an inheritance, he eagerly anticipates their new found wealth and borrows money from everyone around him to flaunt their new incoming fortune.

However, the news of the family’s financial prosperity is short-lived as it emerges that law student, Charlie Bentham, has mistakenly drafted the will in such a way that all of Jack’s cousins have a right to claim their share of the money, leaving very little left for the Boyle family. Bentham flees, leaving Juno and Jack’s daughter, Mary, pregnant with nowhere to turn and the family are destitute once more. When the couple’s son, Johnny, is dragged away and murdered by the Republican soldiers for betraying one of their own, the last nail in the family coffin is sealed. Juno decides to leave her husband and seek a better life with Mary. Tragically, rather than face his demons, Jack Boyle retreats into an alcoholic haze, blocking out the misery of his impoverished, lonely reality.

Show Information

Category
Play
Age Guidance
Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
Number of Acts
3
First Produced
1924
Genres
Drama
Settings
Contemporary, Unit/Single Set
Time & Place
Dublin, 1920s
Cast Size
medium
Ideal For
Community Theatre, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Mature Adult, Young Adult, Adult, Elderly Characters, Medium Cast

Context

Plot


Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Juno Boyle

Lead

Female

Non-singer

Jack Boyle

Lead

Male

Non-singer

Joxer Daly

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

Mary Boyle

Supporting

Female

Non-singer

Johnny Boyle

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

Mrs. Maisie Madigan

Supporting

Female

Non-singer

Charles Bentham

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

Jerry Devine

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

Mrs. Tancred

Featured

Female

Spoken

Needle Nugent

Featured

Male

Spoken

Ensemble

Ensemble

Either Gender

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

    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

    A dramatic event involving a political or symbolic killing, often central to tragedy or historical plays.

    A recurring theme in historical drama, particularly reflecting internal conflict, loyalty, and national identity.

    Short for Irish Republican Army, often referenced in plays centered on Irish history, identity, or conflict, especially The Troubles.

    A group of three connected dramatic works that develop a theme or narrative across multiple performances.

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Guide Written By:

Alexandra Appleton

Alexandra Appleton

Writer, editor and theatre researcher