The W. Scott McLucas Studio Theatre
Saturday, March 23 at 8pm
Sunday, March 24 at 3pm
Bedtime Story (1951)
Young Catholic bachelor John Jo has just spent the night with seductive Angela in his Dublin flat. As morning approaches he is wracked with religious guilt and fear of social repercussions. He tries to hurry Angela away before the other residents and landlady of his boarding house discover her. However, Angela has other plans…
Written in 1951 as part of three one-act farces, including The Hall of Healing and Time to Go, this stand-out short play premiered in May of 1952 at the Yugoslav-American Hall in New York City. It received its Irish premiere at The Abbey Theatre in May of 1972.
The End of the Beginning (1937)
On a farm in rural Ireland, Darry Berrill bets his wife Lizzie that he can do her chores better and faster than she can do his work in the fields. Lizzie goes outside to work as their neighbor Barry stops by the house, and the two men dance and waste time until Darry realizes he has fallen behind. Rushing through his chores, Darry botches every task before him until Lizzie comes home.
One of two plays printed at the end of Windfalls, a book of poems and short stories published in 1934, The End of the Beginning was first performed at the Abbey Theatre in February of 1937. It revisits O’Casey’s interest in gender bias and society’s underestimation of the strength of women. Its humor and accessibility make it popular through today.
A Pound on Demand (1939)
Desperate for one more pound to spend at the pub, an inebriated man and his drunken companion hilariously attempt to withdraw money from the local post office.
A Pound on Demand was the second play printed at the end of Windfalls, a book of poems and short stories published in 1934; it was first produced in October 1939 at the Q Theatre in London.
All readings are free to attend. Invitations were sent via email. To request an invitation, call the Irish Rep box office at 212-727-2737.
