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English drama -- Irish authors Books
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W. B. (William Butler) Yeats
Poems
"Poems" by W. B. Yeats is a collection of poetry written in the late 19th to early 20th century. This anthology showcases Yeats's diverse exploration of themes such as love, identity, and the intersection of mythology and reality, reflecting his deep ties to Irish culture and heritage. Readers can expect a rich tapestry of lyrical expressions that convey both personal and national sentiments through Yeats’s unique voice. At the start of this collection, Yeats's prefaces introduce a reflection on his previous works, particularly plays like "The Countess Cathleen" and "The Land of Heart's Desire." He discusses the revisions he has made in these pieces to suit the theatrical context they were created for, and emphasizes his desire to capture the essence of Irish folklore and spirituality. Yeats also touches on the struggles with art and the complexities of the human experience, hinting at the blend of reality and fantasy that populates his poetry, establishing an intriguing premise for what follows in the collection.
W. B. (William Butler) Yeats
Where There is Nothing Being Volume I of Plays for an Irish Theatre
"Where There is Nothing" by W. B. Yeats is a play written in the early 20th century. The narrative centers around Paul Ruttledge, a man disillusioned with societal norms and responsibilities, who seeks to escape his conventional life and immerse himself in the world of the tinkers—a group of itinerant people in Ireland—symbolizing freedom and a raw connection to life. The themes of identity, societal expectations, and the search for deeper meaning are likely explored in the struggle between the respectable world and the wildness of the tinker's life. The opening of the play introduces us to Paul Ruttledge, who is depicted as a man detached from the society that surrounds him, preferring to engage with nature and explore philosophical musings rather than conform to social expectations. As he converses with various characters, such as his brother Thomas and Father Jerome, it becomes evident that Paul feels a profound disconnect from the people in his life, whom he views as dull and restrictive. His desire for change leads him to don the clothes of a tinker, symbolizing his wish to cast off societal restraints and embrace a life of wandering and adventure. This beginning sets the stage for Paul's quest for freedom and authenticity amidst a backdrop of societal norms that he finds suffocating.
Charles Macklin
The true-born Irishman : $b or, Irish fine lady : a comedy of two acts
"The true-born Irishman : or, Irish fine lady : a comedy of two acts by Macklin" is a satirical stage comedy written in the late 18th century. The play skewers fashionable pretension and social climbing in Dublin, lampooning anglicized airs, reckless gambling, and marital folly, while contrasting sturdy Irish plain-dealing with imported vanity. Country gentleman Murrogh O’Dogherty laments that his wife, newly back from London and rebranded “Mrs. Diggerty,” has caught the “fine lady” fever—aping English speech, chasing titles, and losing money at cards with Lady Kinnegad, Lady Bab Frightful, and their set. An English coxcomb, Count Mushroom, also Lord Old-Castle’s agent, tries to seduce her to sway lease terms, but O’Dogherty and the maid Katty intercept his letters and answer in her name to entrap him. At a bustling evening of gaming, O’Dogherty’s brother, Counsellor Hamilton, shocks Mrs. Diggerty into repentance with a blunt warning about her reputation. The husband forgives her and bids farewell to French cooks and London affectations. Finally, Mushroom arrives in women’s clothes for an assignation, is terrified by O’Dogherty’s feigned jealousy and pistol, and, in a panic, hides in a portmanteau. The company exposes and parades him for ridicule, and the play ends with the coxcomb punished and the “Irish fine lady” reclaimed to sense.
George Shiels
Professor Tim & Paul Twyning : $b Comedies in three acts
"Professor Tim & Paul Twyning : Comedies in three acts" by George Shiels is a collection of stage comedies written in the early 20th century. It centers on rural Irish life, where pride, money, marriage, and local status collide with affection and common sense. The principal comedy follows down-on-his-luck horseman Hugh O’Cahan, practical Peggy Scally, her domineering mother, ambitious councillor James Kilroy, and Peggy’s shambolic but oddly gifted uncle, the so-called “Professor Tim,” a water-diviner. Expect lively banter, social satire, and farcical turns around an auction, a courtship, and a family’s hunger for respectability. The opening of this collection introduces the Scally kitchen on the morning of Hugh O’Cahan’s auction: Peggy tries to end their romance by returning his costly gifts, while Mrs. Scally maneuvers to match Peggy with Joseph Kilroy, whose father plans to buy Hugh’s farm, Rush Hill. Into this walks “Professor Tim,” Briget Scally’s long-absent brother, a shabby, snuff-scented wanderer whom Briget tries to eject, though Peggy quietly shows him kindness. Act II shifts to Rush Hill, where housekeeper Moll Flanagan and groom Paddy Kinney brace for the sale; Paddy secretly dresses up to run up the bidding, while Peggy asks Hugh to call that evening and pockets the returned jewelry as a stake. The Professor divines springs under the house, then drifts to the auction as the rain forces the small, boycotted crowd indoors. When bidding begins, Paddy’s disguise goads Kilroy higher, tempers flare between Kilroy and Hugh, and the price climbs toward the bank’s reserve as the scene cuts off mid-sale.
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