Brendan Moir's Playwright Corner

When your faith is destroyed, to what do you turn? Reason? Absolution? Or do you continue on believing? These are the clashing personalities of the three men of "The Resurrection," watching guard for the disciples after Jesus' crucifixion, all struggling with their preconceived notions of the world after his death, and are precarious, yet ready, as to what to do next. Can man be satisfied in Heaven? If Heaven is brought down to earth so freely, will man reject it for want of freedom? These are the themes put forward in "Calvary" through the mouths of Lazarus and Judas, the man who could not be beholden to death, and the man who would not be beholden to God. ... And yet, their desires laid upon cross are all too human... all too understandable.

This is the beginning of the Myth of Cuchulainn as set out by W.B. Yeats. In "At the Hawk's Well," there exists a fountain in Scotland that is said to give a person eternal life, but only bubbles up once every few years. However, it is watched over by the Guardian who resembles a Grey Hawk, which in Irish Tradition is a symbol for death. In this play, we witness an old man who has waited to drink from it, but has always been distracted by the stone guardian in one way or another. Will this new man, Cuchulainn, who comes for the same be able to withstand her distractions and be able to share the fountain of life between him and the old man? "The Green Helmet," has multiple similarities the "The Green Knight" from the mythology of King Arthur, but set in an almost farcical manner. When Cuchulainn returns from Scotland, he finds his allies have played a game of whipping off a man's head... only to find out that he is coming back to claim theirs. The mysterious man leaves them with his helmet, which seems to magically induce jealousy between everyone around Cuchulainn, including his friends, their servants, and eventually all of their wives, all fighting about who is the best among them so as to not be the one to forfeit their life. The debt must be paid... but the question is, by whom?

As a collection of Tennyson's early works, "Juvenilia" finds itself focused on many different aspects of love, desire, and death expressed in over 40 different poems, and includes some of his most notable poems such as "Claribel" and "Marina".

Come and experience this delightfully humorous collection of satirical fables that playfully subvert traditional moral lessons, entitled "Fables for the Frivolous" by Guy Wetmore Carryl. Each fable presents a witty and whimsical tale featuring talking animals, mythical creatures, and foolish humans, all navigating absurd situations with clever wordplay and unexpected twists. If you or your child (but especially you) need a collection of stories that poke fun at human foibles and societal conventions while offering a lighthearted perspective on life's absurdities, then this is the book for you! "Mother Goose for Grown-Ups" is a delightful reinvention of classic nursery rhymes tailored for a more mature audience. In this witty and irreverent collection, Carryl puts a humorous spin on beloved childhood favorites such as "Humpty Dumpty," "Jack and Jill," and "Mary Had a Little Lamb," with each rhyme being transformed into a clever and comical tale. If nostalgia is calling your name, but the intellectual side of your brain won't let you be whimsical, throw this on your headphones and let Guy Wetmore Carryl appeal to both sides of your fancy with "Mother Goose for Grown-Ups!" "Grimm Tales Made Gay" is a hilarious reinterpretation of classic Grimm fairy tales infused with humor and irreverence. In this collection, each Brother's Grimm tale is transformed into a witty and whimsical narrative, featuring absurd situations, clever wordplay, and unexpected plot developments. From Cinderella's sassy stepsisters to Little Red Riding Hood's encounter with a cunning wolf, Carryl's reinterpretations offer a fresh and entertaining take on beloved childhood favorites. With its charm, wit, and laugh-out-loud humor, "Grimm Tales Made Gay" is sure to delight readers of all ages! (Illustrations by Albert Levering)

In The Countess Cathleen, famine devastates Ireland, and a pair of mysterious merchants begin buying souls from starving peasants in exchange for food and gold. When Countess Cathleen discovers the growing spiritual crisis among her people, she tries to offer aid-but quickly realizes her wealth alone isn't enough to stop their grief. In a final, deliberate act, she sells her own soul to the merchants, hoping to ransom the villagers' salvation with her sacrifice. Drawing from Irish legend to explore moral choice, quiet heroism, and the uneasy space between good intentions and divine judgment, this debut play of W.B. Yeats would set him apart from other contemporary writers of his time and solidify the foundation for his works to come.

Set against the backdrop of Ireland's struggle for freedom, "Cathleen Ní Houlihan" unfolds with quiet intensity as a young man's ordinary life is gradually overtaken by a strange and irresistible call to something greater. In the presence of a beguiling visitor whose words seem to shimmer with myth and longing, dreams of marriage and home give way to visions of sacrifice and national pride. W.B. Yeats weaves a lyrical, otherworldly tale that blurs the line between reality and enchantment, capturing the powerful sway of idealism, identity, and the mysterious forces that drive people to give everything for a cause--the cause for Ireland's freedom. Brimming with charm and mischief, "The Pot of Broth" is a delightful one-act comedy co-written with Lady Gregory in which a clever wanderer, armed with nothing but an empty pot and a silver tongue, convinces a wary country couple that he can brew a magical broth from a simple stone. As tall tales bubble up alongside the imaginary soup, the ordinary kitchen becomes a stage for trickery, laughter, and the quiet magic of believing in just a little more than what's in front of you. Come into the Irish countryside, where even the poorest pot can cook up a most entertaining story. W.B Yeats' "Purgatory" is a grim representation of generational guilt and spiritual entrapment, as a father confronts the ghosts of his family's past in the ruins of a once-noble home, where memory and violence echo years afterwards. Meanwhile, in "The Cat and the Moon," two beggars-one blind, one lame-make their way to a holy well where Saint Colman resides in the hopes of curing their respective ailments. But when given the opportunity of being healed or being blessed, both beggars are forced to reassess their convictions. Will they use their newfound gifts for justice, or will they accept placement in the hereafter?