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Cathleen Listens In

A Fantasy in One Act, by Sean O'Casey

OVERVIEW

  • Playwright

    Sean O'Casey 

  • Setting

    The Garden before the House of the O'Houlihan Family Time - The Present

  • Notes

    Letters contained in O'Casey's papers in the National Library suggest that the original script of 'Cathleen Listens In ' was lost shortly after the play's premiere in the 1920s. A version of the script turned up in Dublin in 1958 and was published by the 'Tulane Review of Drama' in the 1960s. Copies of the journal can be viewed in the National Library, as well as in selected other libraries in the UK and the US. The play was also included in Robert Hogan's 'Feathers From a Green Crow' collected volume, published by the University of Missouri Press in 1962.

  • Synopsis

    A 20-minute sketch lampooning the political figures of the day from the Gaelic Leaguer who would 'knock the house down and build it around the hill of Tara' to the chameleon Republicans who would forever shift position dependent on what was to their advantage.

  • Play Type

    Plays General

    Number Of Acts

    Full-Length

    • Cast size

  • Male

    12

  • Female

    2

  • Total

    14

Original Production

Original Cast  
The Business Man Udolphus Wright
Two Men P.J. Carolan
The Man in the Kilts Gabriel J. Fallon
The Farmer Maurice Esmonde
The Republican Tony Quinn (1)
The Man with the Big Drum Peter Nolan
The Free-Stater Arthur Shields
Thomas Thornton Barry Fitzgerald
Meehawl O'Houlihan F J McCormick
Sheela O'Houlihan Maureen Delaney
Kathleen Eileen Crowe
The Doctor Eric Gorman
Jimmy Michael J. Dolan
Two Men Walter Dillon
Production Team  
Musical Director Dr. J.F. Larchet
Produced by Lennox Robinson

Published Scripts

  • Title

    Feathers From a Green Crow, Sean O'Casey 1905-1925/ Edited by Robert Hogan

  • Year

    1962

  • Published By

    Publisher not found

  • Address

    England

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Unpublished Scripts

  • Contact

    National Library of Ireland (Manuscripts Department)

  • Address

    Kildare Street
    Dublin 2
    Republic of Ireland

  • Phone

    +353 1 6030200

  • Email

    info@nli.ie

  • Website

    www.nli.ie

Rights Information

  • Territory

    All Territories

  • Rights Type

    All Rights

  • Contact

    The Estate of Sean O'Casey: Macnaughton Lord Representation

  • Address

    44 South Molton Street
    London W1K 5RT
    England

  • Phone

    +44 (0)20 7499 1411

  • Email

    info@mlrep.com

  • Website

    www.mlrep.com

Source Of Information

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