Maggie Flynn
by Luigi Creatore, George David Weiss, Hugo Peretti

Broadway

Maggie Flynn Book Cover — Maggie Flynn Cover

Highlights

Female

Male

120 mins19th CenturyRole(s) for Black Actor(s)Unit Set/Multiple SettingsPeriod Costumes

Synopsis

Shirley Jones starred on Broadway as Maggie Flynn, an open-hearted Irish young woman who runs a home on New York’s Lower East Side for Black children orphaned by the Civil War.

She is fond of a Union officer and is about to wed, when out of the past wanders her wayward actor-husband Phineas, who left her to play Shakespeare and has now returned as a vagabond clown.

As the war closes in, Confederate insurgents run guns into the city as the violence escalates.

In a rip roaring finale, tempers flare, riots are quelled and true love finds its way to the heart of Maggie Flynn.

Characters

Character	Gender	Age	Description
MAGGIE FLYNN An Irish girl who immigrated to this country at a very early age. She is full of wile and charm, despite her essential determination and doggedness.	female	—	An Irish girl who immigrated to this country at a very early age. She is full of wile and charm, despite her essential determination and doggedness.
PHINEAS FLYNN A dreamer and a loser – these qualities effectively covered up by an irresistible humor and charm.	—	—	A dreamer and a loser – these qualities effectively covered up by an irresistible humor and charm.
COL. JOHN FARRADAY A romantic figure with great charm, which effectively, most times, conceals the fact that he is 100% military.	male	10	A romantic figure with great charm, which effectively, most times, conceals the fact that he is 100% military.
TIMMY A 20-year-old, attractive and sympathetic boy who is too easily led.	male	20	A 20-year-old, attractive and sympathetic boy who is too easily led.
MARY A spunky Irish girl who is sometimes not too bright, but is always energetic and vivacious.	female	—	A spunky Irish girl who is sometimes not too bright, but is always energetic and vivacious.
GEN. PARKINGTON A suave and charming middle-aged man who seems to be anything but military. He more closely resembles Shaw’s Gen. Burgoyne than he does MacArthur.	male	—	A suave and charming middle-aged man who seems to be anything but military. He more closely resembles Shaw’s Gen. Burgoyne than he does MacArthur.
MRS. VANDERHOFF A giddy old bag whose wealth is recently acquired and who, therefore, exhibits all the gaucherie often found in the nouveau riche.	female	—	A giddy old bag whose wealth is recently acquired and who, therefore, exhibits all the gaucherie often found in the nouveau riche.
WILL JEFFERSON Bob’s younger brother, full of patriotic zeal, supported by very little intellect.	male	—	Bob’s younger brother, full of patriotic zeal, supported by very little intellect.
BOB JEFFERSON The brains of the duo. Suave and accomplished, knows all the tactics of rabble-rousing.	—	—	The brains of the duo. Suave and accomplished, knows all the tactics of rabble-rousing.
EFRAM A terrified Black man who has surreptitiously come north on a slave train, he is capable of enormous dignity.	male	—	A terrified Black man who has surreptitiously come north on a slave train, he is capable of enormous dignity.
O’BRIEN and	—	—	and
DONNELLY Two bawdy, argumentative and amusing Irish immigrants. They are never apart, despite the fact that they never stop arguing.	—	—	Two bawdy, argumentative and amusing Irish immigrants. They are never apart, despite the fact that they never stop arguing.
THE CHILDREN Entirely natural and unprecocious.	—	—	Entirely natural and unprecocious.