Plays One
by Sean O'casey

Name: Plays One
Brand: Sean O'casey
SKU: 9780571191819
Rating: 3.71 (35 reviews)

Highlights

British

What readers are saying

Readers appreciate the depth and richness of O'Casey's plays in this collection. Many commend the social themes and character shifts that reflect Dublin life, while the phonetic dialogue adds a unique reading experience. However, some find certain plays overly philosophical, which may slow down the reading process for some.

Rich social themesMasterful character handlingPhonetic dialogue adds uniquenessSome plays too philosophical

Synopsis

In his early forties, while continuing to support himself as a laborer, we wrote, in quick succession three realistic plays about the slums of Dublin, known as the Dublin Trilogy.

Juno and the Paycock

, the second installment of the trilogy, was performed in the Abbey Theatre in 1924—the Abbey theatre produced the first installment of the trilogy, The Shadow of a Gunman (not included in this volume) in 1923.

Juno and the Paycock deals with the unpleasantness of war and the misery of the victims during the the Irish struggle for indepenence.

It was awarded the Hawthornden Prize.

As his career progressed, O'Casey experiemented with expressionism and symbolism, which resulted in Within the Gates; Red Roses for Me

, a semiautobiographical work; and Cock-a-Doodle Dandy

Due to an increase of nationalism during the Civil War and Irish Independence movement, his plays were received well, although, at times, with protest and restriction.