The Playboy of the Western World

Summary: 1946 BBC live studio production of J. M. Synge’s The Playboy of the Western World.
Theatre play: The Playboy of the Western World by J. M. Synge (1871-1909) [more information]
Play synopsis: 'It is set in Michael James Flaherty’s public house in County Mayo (on the west coast of Ireland) during the early 1900s. It tells the story of Christy Mahon, a young man running away from his farm, claiming he killed his father. The locals are more interested in vicariously enjoying his story than in condemning the immorality of his murderous deed. He captures the romantic attention of the barmaid Pegeen Mike, the daughter of Flaherty.' Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Playboy_of_the_Western_World.
Production history: First performed at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin, on 26 January 1907.
Date of transmission: Friday 9 August 1946
Time: 8.30-10.00pm
Channel: BBC Television
Production company: BBC

Producer

Fred O’Donovan (1889-1952)

Playwright

J. M. Synge (1871-1909)

Cast

Nigel Arkwright	Peasant
Patrick Boxill	Christopher Mahon
Phyllis Byford	Peasant
Edward Byrne	Shawn Keogh
J. Adrian Byrne	Philly Cullen
Joyce Chancellor	Sara Tansey
Ann Clery	Widow Quin
Alan Crawley	Peasant
Maureen Cusack	Susan Brady
Billy Kelly	Bellman
E. J. Kennedy	Jimmy Farrell
Rosamund Merivale	Peasant
Rose Murray	Honor Blake
Phyllis Ryan	Margaret Flaherty, called Pegeen Mike
Arthur Sinclair	Michael James Flaherty
Dennis Vance	Peasant
Tom Warden	Old Mahon

Origination: Live from studio
Vision original: Monochrome
Later transmissions: Presented again at 9.00pm on Saturday 17 August and 3.00pm on Sunday 18 August 1946.
Notes: The cast is taken from the Radio Times listing for 17 August 1946.
Extant status: No archival copy is known to exist.
Play tags: Edwardian drama; Irish drama; murder; Republic of Ireland, as theme or setting

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