The Theatre of Tom Murphy: Playwright Adventurer

Description

Tom Murphy shot to fame with the London production of A Whistle in the Dark in 1961, establishing him as the outstanding Irish playwright of his generation. The international success of DruidMurphy, the 2012-13 staging of three of his major plays by the Druid Theatre Company, served to underline his continuing appeal and importance. This is the first full scale academic study devoted to his theatre, providing an overview of all his work, with a detailed reading of his most significant texts. His powerful and searchingly honest engagement with Irish history and society is reflected in the violent Whistle in the Dark, the epic Famine (1968), the often hilarious Conversations on a Homecoming (1985) and the darkly Chekhovian The House (2000). Folklore and myth figure more prominently in the spiritual drama of The Sanctuary Lamp (1975), the Faustian Gigli Concert (1983) and the women’s stories of Bailegangaire (1985). The range and reach of Murphy’s theatre is demonstrated in this informed reading, supported by an extended interview with the playwright himself and essays by two eminent international scholars, Lucy McDiarmid and Alexandra Poulain. Title Page Copyright Page Contents Acknowledgements The Works of Tom Murphy Preface Chapter 1 Retrospectives Growing up in Tuam Living in London Working with the Abbey Partnership with Druid Writing, rewriting, recycling Chapter 2 Predicaments of Irishmen: On the Inside/On the Outside, A Crucial Week in the Life of a Grocer’s Assistant, A Whistle in the Dark Shut out, shut in Staying or going Whistling in the dark Chapter 3 Staging History: The Patriot Game, Famine Commemoration Trauma Chapter 4 Beyond Mimicry: The Blue Macushla, The White House, Conversations on a Homecoming Borrowing a style Images Orchestrating the ordinary Chapter 5 The Pursuit of Property: The Wake, The House Grasping and letting go House and home Chapter 6 Worlds of Their Own: The Morning After Optimism, The Sanctuary Lamp Astray in the forest Holed up in the church Chapter 7 Words and Music: Too Late For Logic, The Gigli Concert To be or not to be Myth, music, magic Chapter 8 The Lives of Women: Alice Trilogy, The Mommo Plays Innerworlds Telling their story Chapter 9 Critical Perspectives A Thief of a Christmas Bailegangaire To conclude Conclusion Notes Preface Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Conclusion Bibliography Works by Murphy Unpublished papers Works on Murphy and related material Theatre reviews and interviews Notes on contributors Index