The W. Scott McLucas Studio Theatre
Written by Sean O’Casey
Directed by Christa Scott-Reed
Music Director: Stephen Kennedy Murphy
Saturday, March 9 at 8pm
Sunday, March 10 at 3pm
For Oak Leaves and Lavender, O’Casey turned to England during World War II to pay homage to the Battle of Britain and England’s ancient traditions. The entire play is set in a Cornish Manorial House that is serving as a headquarters for the Home Guard during World War II while being haunted by the ghosts of England’s past glories. While the ghostly story infuses this work with fantastical elements, a realistic plot grounds the work as O’Casey once again introduces a wide range of characters – from air-raid wardens and Land Army girls to members of the community. This unique play combines a sparse, realistic plot and O’Casey’s signature comedic dialogue with the anti-Fascist rhetoric that O’Casey has begun to infuse in his plays during that period.
Written in 1946, Oak Leaves and Lavender premiered on May 13, 1947 at the Lyric Theatre Hammersmith 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.
