OVERVIEW

• Playwright

  Helen Waddell 

• Setting

  Sixth century BC, in the Sacred Grove of Buddha

• Notes

  The character list for this entry comes from the published script, which also specifies fourteen Rakkan, and an unidentified number of Priests. The cast list is taken from reviews of the premiere production, where only actors playing the main roles were identified. Actors playing the other parts were listed collectively, but not individually. The company for the premiere production therefore also included Josephine Mayne, Marion Crimmins, Nora Ross, Mia Florence, Evelyn Jackson, D. McNamara, Jackson Graham, John Field, Joseph Rooney, Lawrence Mclarnon, Russell Stafford, Walter Kennedy, Brian Arthur, Victor Firth, S. Warnock and W. Bingham.

• Synopsis

  A play about the conflict between ascetic and sensuous approaches to humanity. Binzuru, favoured disciple of the Buddha, is accused by rival Daruma of discovering the Infinite not in abstract meditation, but in the figure of a woman. As a consequence, he is refused continued status as a disciple, or Rakkan, and is banished to the outer court of the Holy of Holies. His body is, however, granted healing powers for those who touch it so that he may purge his fault over time. Some 2500 years later, the Buddha steals away from the inner court to meet Binzuru and talk about the past. The Buddha is now weary, while Binzuru by contrast is quite accepting of his lot, and during their conversation, makes an unexpected discovery.

• Play Type

  Plays General
  

  Number Of Acts

  Full-Length

Cast size

• Male

  13

• Female

  6

• Total

  19

Original Production

• Date of First Production

  01 February 1915

• Producer

  Produced by Ulster (Literary)Theatre

• Original Venue

  Grand Opera House
  

Source Of Information

Information for this entry has come from the published script, from reviews of the premiere production, and from Margaret McHenry's 'The Ulster Theatre in Ireland'.