OVERVIEW

• Playwright

  St. John Greer Ervine 

• Setting

  The sitting-room of the Mahaffy's home situated near Queen's University Belfast, in the present.

• Synopsis

  Martha, an unselfish, kind girl, has devoted her life to looking after her thoughtless professor father and family members. Her dedication is tested when Albert, an adopted son of the family who was subsequently rejected, returns. He shows Martha that she has other options, and rouses awareness in her of her family's selfishness. When news subsequently comes of a property inheritance for Martha in America she has to make a choice, and weigh her option of family pleadings against the possibility of a life of her own.

• Play Type

  Plays General
  

  Number Of Acts

  Full-Length

Cast size

• Male

  4

• Female

  5

• Total

  9

Original Production

• Date of First Production

  15 August 1955

• Producer

  Produced by Ulster Group Theatre

• Original Venue

  Group Theatre
  

Source Of Information

Information for this entry was taken from cuttings, and from the original production programme held at the Theatre and Performing Arts Archive of the Linen Hall Library, Belfast.