OVERVIEW

• Playwright

  T.C. Murray 

• Setting

  Rural Cork

• Notes

  Originally titled 'The Tillers'

• Synopsis

  In a modern retelling of the biblical story of Esau and Jacob, 'Birthright' is the story of brothers Hugh and Shane Morrisey. Hugh, the elder, is the heir to his father, Bat’s, farm. Shane will be forced to emigrate. Their mother, Maura, supports Hugh’s legal right to the inheritance. Bat begins to doubt Hugh’s ability to run the farm. He forces Hugh to emigrate in place of Shane. When Maura discovers the subterfuge, she confronts Shane, “I would see you to the gallows to have back my son.” In a rage the younger brother grabs a gun, rushes outdoors and murders his brother as he is walking away from the farm.

• Play Type

  Plays General
  

  Number Of Acts

  Full-Length

Cast size

• Male

  5

• Female

  1

• Total

  6

Original Production

• Date of First Production

  27 October 1910

• Producer

  Produced by Abbey Theatre/Amharclann na Mainistreach

• Original Venue

  Abbey Theatre/Amharclann na Mainistreach
  

Source Of Information

The information for this entry was taken from Ireland's Abbey Theatre: A History 1899-1951 by Lennox Robinson, with additional information from press cuttings of the time. The synopsis was provided by Martin Munroe.