{"product_id":"the-methuen-drama-anthology-of-irish-plays-hostage-bailegangaire-belle-of-the-belfast-city-steward-of-christendom-cripple-of-inishmaan-9781408106785","title":"The Methuen Drama Anthology of Irish Plays: Hostage; Bailegangaire; Belle of the Belfast City; Steward of Christendom; Cripple of Inishmaan","description":"\u003cp\u003eIntroduced by Patrick Lonergan\u003ci\u003e, The Methuen Drama Anthology of Irish Plays \u003c\/i\u003ebrings together five major works from the Irish dramatic canon of the last sixty years in one outstanding collection. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eBehan's \u003ci\u003eThe Hostage\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e, depicting the capture and death\u003cbr\u003eof a British soldier by the IRA, was first produced by Joan\u003cbr\u003eLittlewood's Theatre Workshop in 1958 and was declared \u003cb\u003e'a masterpiece' \u003c\/b\u003eby \u003ci\u003eThe Times. \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003eMurphy's \u003ci\u003eBailegangaire \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e(1985)\u003cbr\u003eportrays a senile old woman's recitation of an epic tale to her two\u003cbr\u003egranddaughters who struggle to free themselves from her and exorcise\u003cbr\u003ethe past. \u003cb\u003eReid's \u003ci\u003eThe Belle of the Belfast City\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e, \u003cb\u003ewinner of the George Devine Award in 1986\u003c\/b\u003e, \u003cbr\u003eexamines the tensions present in three generations of women in a\u003cbr\u003eBelfast-Protestant family during the week of an anti-Anglo-Irish rally.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSebastian Barry's \u003ci\u003eThe Steward of Christendom \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003ewon the London \u003cb\u003eCritics' Circle Award for Best Play 1995 \u003c\/b\u003eand was heralded by the \u003ci\u003eGuardian \u003c\/i\u003eas \u003cb\u003e'an authentic masterpiece'\u003c\/b\u003e. \u003cb\u003eMcDonagh's 1996 play \u003ci\u003eThe Cripple of Inishmaan\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e is a strange comic tale in the great tradition of Irish storytelling. McDonagh was awarded the \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eEvening Standard \u003c\/i\u003eAward for Most Promising Playwright.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eBrendan Behan (1923-64) found fame and notoriety with his work and\u003cbr\u003eRepublican sympathies. Christina Reid, from Belfast, came to prominence\u003cbr\u003ein the 1980s. Tom Murphy's many plays are collected into 5 volumes by\u003cbr\u003eMethuen Drama; his most recent play opened in Dublin in 2006. Martin\u003cbr\u003eMcDonagh's first play, \u003ci\u003eThe Beauty Queen of Leenane\u003c\/i\u003e, was the 1996 winner of the George Devine Award and the \u003ci\u003eEvening Standard\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAward for Most Promising Newcomer. Sebastian Barry is a poet, dramatist\u003cbr\u003eand novelist. Patrick Lonergan is professor of English at the National\u003cbr\u003eUniversity of Ireland.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Methuen Drama","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50465034338578,"sku":"9781408106785","price":23.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_e840651a-bce6-4cc4-a151-1c48afdc304c.jpg?v=1730109618","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/the-methuen-drama-anthology-of-irish-plays-hostage-bailegangaire-belle-of-the-belfast-city-steward-of-christendom-cripple-of-inishmaan-9781408106785","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}