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The Arts Council Playography Na Gaeilge

Plays

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Red Turf

A play in one act

OVERVIEW

  • Playwright

    Rutherford Mayne 

  • Setting

    The action takes place in the bog lands in the West of Ireland, in the present day [1911].

  • Synopsis

    A one-act tragedy telling the story of a fatal feud between neighbouring Galway families over a piece of land. Martin Burke and wife Mary are outraged to find their ownership of a portion of bogland, which Mary brought it to her marriage as part of her dowry, disputed by neighbour Michael Flannigan. When it is found that the land must be divided between the parties, Mary goads Martin not to accept the decision. He declares bloody war between the families and in a fit of rage, rushes to avenge himself on his neighbour with a gun. Mary's attempts to stop him fail, and the play ends with the sound of a shot off stage.

  • Play Type

    Plays General

    Number Of Acts

    One Act

  • Cast Size Male

    4

  • Cast Size Female

    1

Original Production

Original Cast  
Michael Flanagan (the elder) Ross Canmer
John Heffernan J.M. Harding
Michael Flanagan (the younger) Charles K. Ayre
Mary Burke Josephine Mayne
Martin Burke Joseph Campbell (2)

Published Scripts

  • Title

    Selected Plays: Rutherford Mayne (Irish Drama Selections 13)

  • Year

    2000

  • Published By

    Colin Smythe Ltd.

  • Address

    P.O. Box 6
    Gerrards Cross
    Buckinghamshire SL9 8XA
    England

  • Phone

    + 44 1753 886000

  • Email

    sales@colinsmythe.co.uk

  • Website

    www.colinsmythe.co.uk

  • ISBN

    0-86140-293-6

Rights Information

  • Territory

    All Territories

  • Rights Type

    All Rights

  • Contact

    Colin Smythe Ltd.

  • Address

    P. O. Box 6, Gerrards Cross
    Buckinghamshire
    SL9 8XA
    England

  • Phone

    +44 (0) 1753 886000

  • Email

    cs@colinsmythe.co.uk

Source Of Information

Information for this entry came from Margaret McHenry's 'The Ulster Theatre in Ireland', Wolfgang Zach's introduction to 'Selected Plays: Rutherford Mayne", and from the published playscript (1912 edition).