PERSONS
CHRISTOPHER MAHON.
OLD MAHON, his father, a squatter.
MICHAEL JAMES FLAHERTY (called MICHAEL JAMES), a publican.
MARGARET FLAHERTY (called PEGEEN MIKE), his daughter.
SHAWN KEOUGH, her cousin, a young farmer.
WIDOW QUIN, a woman of about thirty.
PHILLY CULLEN and JIMMY FARRELL, small farmers.
SARA TANSEY, SUSAN BRADY, and HONOR BLAKE, village girls.
A BELLMAN.
SOME PEASANTS.
The action takes place near a village, on a wild coast of Mayo. The first Act passes on an evening of autumn, the other two Acts on the following day.
THE PLAYBOY OF THE WESTERN WORLD
ACT I.
SCENE: Country public-house or shebeen, very rough and untidy. There is a sort of counter on the right with shelves, holding many bottles and jugs, just seen above it. Empty barrels stand near the counter. At back, a little to left of counter, there is a door into the open air, then, more to the left, there is a settle with shelves above it, with more jugs, and a table beneath a window. At the left there is a large open fire-place, with turf fire, and a small door into inner room. Pegeen, a wild-looking but fine girl, of about twenty, is writing at table. She is dressed in the usual peasant dress.
PEGEEN.
slowly as she writes.—Six yards of stuff for to make a yellow gown. A pair of lace boots with lengthy heels on them and brassy eyes. A hat is suited for a wedding-day. A fine tooth comb. To be sent with three barrels of porter in Jimmy Farrell’s creel cart on the evening of the coming Fair to Mister Michael James Flaherty. With the best compliments of this season. Margaret Flaherty.
SHAWN KEOGH.
a fat and fair young man comes in as she signs, looks round awkwardly, when he sees she is alone.—Where’s himself?
PEGEEN.
without looking at him.—He’s coming. (She directs the letter.) To Mister Sheamus Mulroy, Wine and Spirit Dealer, Castlebar.
SHAWN.
uneasily.—I didn’t see him on the road.