The Playboy of the Western World by J. M. Synge
Synopsis
J.M. Synge's extraordinary play about a young man on the run, and his unexpected elevation to folk hero.
A stranger, Christy Mahon, arrives in a village bar in County Mayo in the West of Ireland, claiming to have killed his father. The locals are impressed - some can even directly relate to the deed - and Christy is lauded as a folk hero. He can't believe his luck, and confidently pursues the affections of the barmaid Pegeen, until the arrival of his not-so-dead father takes the winds out of Christy's sails...
The Playboy of the Western World was first performed at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin, in January 1907, causing riots across the city.
This edition of the play, in the Nick Hern Books Drama Classics series, is introduced by Margaret Llewllyn Jones.
About the Author
John Millington Synge (1871–1909) was an Irish playwright, poet, prose writer, travel writer and collector of folklore. He was a key figure in the Irish Literary Revival and was one of the co-founders of the Abbey Theatre. He is best known for his play The Playboy of the Western World, which caused riots in Dublin during its opening run at the Abbey Theatre.