Best Irish plays?

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 9/20/23 at 5:58pm

With DruidO'Casey coming soo, it got me thinking about Irish plays I should be reading or hoping to see someday.

I know Samuel Beckett. A little Brian Friel. Shining City by Conor McPherson. Martin McDonagh.

What else would you recommend?

[Voter]

Posted: 9/20/23 at 6:08pm

The Man of No Importance 

[Melissa25]

Posted: 9/20/23 at 6:24pm

I loved McDonagh's dark comedy The Cripple of Inishmaan.  McPherson's The Seafarer is another favorite.  You definitely cannot go wrong with Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest.  

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 9/20/23 at 6:25pm

Hm, thank you, but not sure I'd count that. The musical is based on a screenplay by an Irishman, sure, but the book, lyrics and music were all by Americans.

The title of that show did remind me of Oscar Wilde though, who I nearly forgot. He'd definitely be up there with the rest of the Best Irish Plays.

[Dan6]

Posted: 9/20/23 at 9:51pm

J.M. Synge, Playboy of the Western World. Or for something more recent, I thought The Ferryman was brilliant. 

[Jarethan]

Posted: 9/21/23 at 12:01am

The Pillowman.  My Donough’s greatest work, which IMO is saying something.

The Ferryman.

To me, they are far superior to any others that I have seen

[JasonC3]

Posted: 9/21/23 at 6:28am

I'd take a look at Enda Walsh's oeuvre.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 9/21/23 at 2:15pm

McPherson’s The Weir.

[B212323]

Posted: 9/21/23 at 2:26pm

George Bernard Shaw is Irish but I don't think it's what people think of when they talk of an Irish playwright. The same with Oscar Wilde. 

Translations by Brian Friel is one of my favorite plays. I also love Philadelphia Here I Come. 

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 9/21/23 at 4:35pm

Thank you.

All men mentioned so far. I think Marina Carr might be the only woman I've heard of in this field, but that's just the world we live in. I'm sure there are plenty of talented women out there too.

[whatever2]

Posted: 9/21/23 at 7:23pm

> George Bernard Shaw is Irish but I don't think it's what people think of when they talk of an Irish playwright. The same with Oscar Wilde. 

I've lived in Ireland. Irish people think of Wilde as Irish, I can assure you.

[B212323]

Posted: 9/22/23 at 1:49pm

Jarethan said: "The Pillowman. My Donough’s greatest work, which IMO is saying something.

The Ferryman.

To me, they are far superior to any others that I have seen"

The Ferryman was written by Jen Butterworth who's a Brit (though heavily influenced by his Irish partner Laura Donnelly). 

[Jarethan]

Posted: 9/22/23 at 4:57pm

B212323 said: "Jarethan said: "The Pillowman. My Donough’s greatest work, which IMO is saying something.

The Ferryman.

To me, they are far superior to any others that I have seen"

The Ferryman was written by Jen Butterworth who's a Brit (though heavily influenced by his Irish partner Laura Donnelly)."

I stand corrected.  I would add The Beauty Queen of Leenane.

I just can’t get into Brian Friel (I have been bored by every show of his I have seen) and have also been bored at performances of the only O’Casey plays I have seen.

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 9/22/23 at 5:20pm

Did you see the movie version of Friel's Dancing At Lughnasa, with Meryl Streep? I loved it, far from boring. I haven't seen it on stage, though. Again with The Field, by John B. Keane. Loved the movie, still to see the play. I'm sure all the pretty scenery on camera makes a difference.

I'm surprised you found O'Casey boring. Th reviews for Druid's new productions have been glowing. Full of comedy and drama, mxing seamlessly. Drunken revelry and singsong combined with the horrors of a civil war. I wonder what American reviewers will say, who perhaps are not as familiar with Irish history.

[Melissa25]

Posted: 9/22/23 at 10:26pm

Druid O’Casey is up on TDF now.

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 9/22/23 at 10:29pm

Marina Carr is very underrated. I like BY THE BOG OF CATS.

[goodlead2]

Posted: 9/23/23 at 11:34am

Three by Brian Friel:  Dancing at Lughnasa (the play is better than the movie),
Faith Healer, and Philadelphia Here I  Come.

Also Synge's one act, Riders to the Sea.