Plays

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A Crucial Week in the Life of a Grocer's Assistant

OVERVIEW

  • Playwright

    Tom Murphy (1) 

  • Setting

    Outside a small town in Ireland.

  • Synopsis

    John Joe Moran is 29; the son of the town gravedigger and a washerwoman, and the servant to a craw-thumping grocer who pays him 19 shillin’s a week whilst urging him not to stray from the straight and narrow. John Joe has a girl and dreams of escape just like his brother, but his mother and her close ally the Parish Priest keep John Joe firmly in chains.

  • Play Type

    Plays General

    Number Of Acts

    Full-Length

  • Cast size

  • Male

    9

  • Female

    4

  • Total

    13

Original Production

Original Cast  
Mona Nuala Hayes
Agnes Smith Fionnuala Kenny
Mrs. Smith Maire O'Donnell
Father Micheál Ó Briain
Father Daly Geoff Golden
Pension Man Edward Golden
Alec Brady Harry Brogan
Pakey Garvey Seamus Newham
Mr. Brown Eamon Kelly
Mullins Peadar Lamb
John Joe Moran Donal McCann
Miko Feely Des Cave
Mother Maureen O'Sullivan
Production Team  
Director Alan Simpson
Designer Brian Collins
Lighting Tony Wakefield
Costume Designer John Ryan (3)
Music written and performed by Maeve McSwiney
Stage Director Rhona Woodcock
Stage Director Bríd Ní Shúilleabháin
Stage Manager Tommy Woods

Published Scripts

  • Title

    Murphy Plays 4

  • Year

    1997

  • Published By

    Methuen

  • Address

    Head Office, 215 Vauxhall Bridge Road
    London SW1V 1EJ
    England

  • Phone

    + 44 (0)20 7798 1600

  • Website

    www.methuen.co.uk

  • ISBN

    0413714500

  • Purchase From Amazon...

  • Title

    A Crucial Week in the Life of a Grocer's Assistant

  • Year

    1978

  • Published By

    The Gallery Press

  • Address

    Loughcrew
    Oldcastle
    Co. Meath
    Republic of Ireland

  • Phone

    + 353 (0)49 8541779

  • Email

    gallery@indigo.ie

  • Website

    www.gallerypress.com

  • ISBN

    0902996762

Rights Information

  • Territory

    All Territories

  • Rights Type

    All Rights

  • Contact

    Alexandra Cann Representation

  • Address

    Box 116, 4 Montpelier Street
    London SW7 1EE
    England

  • Phone

    + 44 (0)7796954969

  • Email

    alex@alexandracann.co.uk

Source Of Information

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