OVERVIEW

• Playwright

  Lady Gregory 

• Setting

  Opens in an enchanted forest.

• Synopsis

  The guardian spirit of the royal family appears to young Brian and offers him immortal love and happiness if he turns his back on his duty to Ireland. He refuses the offer. The first act shows Brian many years later. He is an old man who has spent his life at war, but with the belief that peace will be restored. Queen Gormleith and her husband Malachi then appear. The Queen leaves her husband for Brian, the more powerful king, but then betrays him by vowing to give herself to the Danes. Brian's son is then offered the same promise by the spirit that appeared at the opening. He is told he has one hour to live and yet still heroically refuses the offer. The play ends with Brian and Murrough contemplating their deaths.

• Play Type

  Plays General
  

  Number Of Acts

  Full-Length

Cast size

• Male

  10

• Female

  3

• Total

  13

• Cast Notes

  Cast doubling is possible. See original production for details.

Original Production

• Date of First Production

  25 March 1905

• Producer

  Produced by Abbey Theatre/Amharclann na Mainistreach

• Original Venue

  Abbey Theatre/Amharclann na Mainistreach
  

Source Of Information

The information for this entry was taken from the original production programme and Ireland's Abbey Theatre: A History 1899-1951 by Lennox Robinson, with additional information from press cuttings of the time.