Plays

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The Emperor of Ice Cream

OVERVIEW

  • Playwright

    Bill Morrison 

  • Adapted / Translated From

    Brian Moore (3)

  • Author Notes

    Based on Brian Moore's 1966 novel of the same name.
  • Synopsis

    The scene is Belfast, Northern Ireland, during the early stages of World War II. Seventeen-year-old Gavin enlists in the war effort to escape the responsibility of continuing his education and getting "a real job". Gavin joins the A.R.P. He has a totally negative self-image and convinces himself that he is just "a second son that will never amount to anything". He'll never be as successful as his older brother Owen, and will never meet his father's expectations of him. Gavin's adolescent fantasies of power and achievement - sometimes sexual, sometimes iconoclastic - always rest on a knife-edge of indecision and powerlessness, of shame and humiliation. But these fantasies, and his father's equally self-serving political/philosophical beliefs are put to the test when the bombs fall. It seems that Hitler has found Ireland on the map! This changes everything.

  • Play Type

    Adaptation/Translation

    Number Of Acts

    Full-Length

  • Cast Size Male

    15

  • Cast Size Female

    10

  • Cast Notes

    Cast doubling is possible. See original production for details.

Original Production

Original Cast  
Mick Gallagher Pat Laffan
Waitress Bríd Ní Neachtain
Hospital Sister Bríd Ní Neachtain
Various Characters Noel McGee
Sally Shannon Fedelma Cullen
Gavin Burke Stephen Brennan (1)
Freddy Hargreaves Niall O'Brien(1)
Priest Peadar Lamb
Mr Harkness Peadar Lamb
The Duchess Fiona Mac Anna
Jimmy Lynan Bob Carlile
Renee Clapper Kathleen Barrington
Aunt Liz May Cluskey
Mrs Burke Máire Ní Dhomhnaill
Maggie Kerr Máire Ní Ghráinne
Captain Lambert Clive Geraghty
Frank Price Geoff Golden
Owen Burke Bryan Murray
Willie Micheál Ó Briain
Barman Micheál Ó Briain
Soldier McBride Micheál Ó hAonghusa
Craig Philip O'Flynn
Mr Burke Desmond Perry
Lili Rosen Maire O'Neill (2)
Doctor McLanaghan Larry Murphy
Various Characters Angela Lynch
Various Characters Andrina Wafer
Production Team  
Director Tomás Mac Anna
Set Designer Wendy Shea
Lighting Designer Leslie Scott
Costume Designer Maebh Browne
Sound Jim Colgan
Production Manager Brian Collins
Stage Director Rhona Woodcock
General Stage Manager Joe Ellis
Stage Manager Tommy Woods
Assistant Stage Manager Bríd Ní Neachtain
Props Master Michael Bono
Set Construction Paddy Rose
Set Construction Maurice Deegan
Scenic Artist Eddie Doyle(1)
Wardrobe Supervisor Anne Cave
Wardrobe Assistant Margaret Cross
Wardrobe Assistant Lily Norton

Unpublished Scripts

  • Contact

    Alan Brodie Representation Ltd

  • Address

    Paddock Suite, The Courtyard
    55 Charterhouse Street
    London EC1M 6HA
    England

  • Phone

    + 44 (0)20 7253 6226

  • Email

    abr@alanbrodie.com

  • Website

    www.alanbrodie.com

Rights Information

  • Territory

    All Territories

  • Rights Type

    All Rights

  • Contact

    Alan Brodie Representation Ltd

  • Address

    Paddock Suite, The Courtyard
    55 Charterhouse Street
    London EC1M 6HA
    England

  • Phone

    + 44 (0)20 7253 6226

  • Email

    abr@alanbrodie.com

  • Website

    www.alanbrodie.com

Source Of Information

The information for this entry was taken from the original production programme.