OVERVIEW

• Playwright

  Rutherford Mayne 

• Notes

  The cast and character lists for this entry are drawn from reviews of the premiere productions. As such, they should be taken as approximate.

• Synopsis

  A farce featuring Colonel Sylvester, a unionist seeking election in a tough constituency. The central issue is the hill of Knocknarea, which an English manufacturer wishes to use as the basis of a new industry, whilst locals claim it as the fitting site for a new Orange hall. Complications build up steadily in the hotly-contested campaign, particularly with the arrival of women sufragettes, and the suspicious drugging of the town's water supplies. In the end, however, the Colonel is elected by a slender margin, and the manufacturer departs in disgust.

• Play Type

  Plays General
  

  Number Of Acts

  Full-Length

Cast size

• Male

  14

• Female

  5

• Total

  19

• Cast Notes

  19

Original Production

• Date of First Production

  25 November 1913

• Producer

  Produced by Ulster (Literary)Theatre

• Original Venue

  Grand Opera House
  

Source Of Information

Information for this entry has come from Margaret McHenry's 'The Ulster Theatre in Ireland', from reviews of the premiere production, and from Wolfgang Zach's 'Selected Plays: Rutherford Mayne'.