Shirley Valentine
by Willy Russell

Name: Shirley Valentine
Brand: Willy Russell
SKU: 9780573691201
Rating: 3.8 (528 reviews)

Shirley Valentine Book Cover — Shirley Valentine Cover

Highlights

Small Cast

Female

120 mins Present Day All Women Unit Set/Multiple Settings Contemporary Costumes/Street Clothes British Comedy

Awards & Recognition

Drama Desk Award Tony Award

Nominee! 1989 Tony Award, Best Play Nomnee! 1989 Drama Desk Award, Outstanding New Play Named among the "10 most influential postwar British plays" by Guardian UK

Synopsis

"Inside Mrs Joe Bradshaw--42-year-old mother of two grown children--is the former Shirley Valentine longing to get out.

Her hope and self-confidence badly shattered by school, marriage and life, she is reduced to talking to the kitchen wall whilst preparing her husband's evening meal--to be on the table as he opens the front door every night.

As she sips a glass of wine she dreams of drinking in a country where the grape is grown.

Her feminist friend offers her a holiday in Greece and, with great trepidation and a lot of forward planning, Shirley seized the opportunity and goes, to encounter a totally different lifestyle.

Shirley, breaking out of the mould cast for her by society, is brilliantly shown with humour, warm sympathy and human insight by the author of Educating Rita and Blood brothers"--

Themes Feminism Man-woman relationships Man-woman relationships--England--Drama Feminism--Drama PR6068.U865 S5 1989 PR6068.U93 S5 1989

Press Reviews

"Russell’s script shows a deep and compassionate understanding of a certain kind of working-class woman at a certain age."
— The Guardian

"In this play [Mr Russell] touches English audiences directly in a way that no other playwright has done since the early John Osborne ... brilliantly funny ..."
— The Times

"Absolutely smashing."
— The New York Post

"A thrilling, cheer raising piece of theatre."
— The Financial Times

Characters

Character	Gender	Age	Description
Shirley Inside Mrs. Joe Bradshaw, a 42-year old mother of two grown children, is the former Shirley Valentine longing to get out. Her hope and self-confidence badly shattered by school, marriage, and life, she is reduced to talking to the kitchen wall whilst preparing her husband's evening meal. When unexpected adventure calls, Shirley seizes the opportunity and goes, to encounter a totally different lifestyle. Shirley, breaking out of the mold cast for her by society, shines brilliantly with humor, warm sympathy, and human insight.	female	—	Inside Mrs. Joe Bradshaw, a 42-year old mother of two grown children, is the former Shirley Valentine longing to get out. Her hope and self-confidence badly shattered by school, marriage, and life, she is reduced to talking to the kitchen wall whilst preparing her husband's evening meal. When unexpected adventure calls, Shirley seizes the opportunity and goes, to encounter a totally different lifestyle. Shirley, breaking out of the mold cast for her by society, shines brilliantly with humor, warm sympathy, and human insight.