Plays

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No Surrender

An extravaganza in three acts

OVERVIEW

  • Playwright

    Gerald Macnamara 

  • Synopsis

    Set in Ulster 60 years from the 'present' [1929], this satirical piece takes place in a spiritualist society where all strife has ended. The past survives simply in the person of Thompson, the last-known remaining Orangeman, who is Exhibit No.1 in the hall of the Orange and Hibernian Museum. By the power of modern wireless William III is invited to attend the reformed Twelfth and open a Garden of Rememberance, on condition that Thompson joins the new order of which William approves. Thompson dies, and William indeed visits. He proves not to be to the people's liking, however, while he himself is quite disconcerted both by his findings on his short visit, and by the arrival to Ulster of Thompson's long-lost grandson. Finally, he declares himself weary and asks to be returned to the Purgatorio from whence he says he came.

  • Play Type

    Plays General

    Number Of Acts

    Full-Length

  • Cast size

  • Male

    6

  • Female

    4

  • Total

    10

  • Cast Notes

    10

Original Production

Original Cast  
Prof. McCrum Richard Hayward
Miss Smyth Elma Ward
The Duchess of Divis Rose McQuillan
Sir Daniel O'Rourke John Field
Miss Thompson Mary Crothers
Wm. Thompson Gerald Macnamara
Andrew Thompson Jack Gavin
Lady Harry Hogan Jean Woods
King William III J.R. Mageean
Sir Thomas Bletherington Kenneth Coffey

Published Scripts

  • Title

    The Plays of Gerald MacNamara, Special Edition, Journal of Irish Literature, 17

  • Year

    1988

  • Published By

    Proscenium Press

  • Address

    Newark, Delaware
    USA

Rights Information

  • Copyright Expired

Source Of Information

Information for this entry has come from the play script featured in Kathleen Danaher's 'The Plays of Gerald MacNamara'; from reviews of the premiere production; and from Margaret McHenry's 'The Ulster Theatre in Ireland'.