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The Arts Council Playography Na Gaeilge

Plays

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The Jackdaw

A Comedy in One Act

OVERVIEW

  • Playwright

    Lady Gregory 

  • Setting

    Mrs. Broderick's general store.

  • Synopsis

    Mrs. Broderick leaves her neighbour in charge of her shop while she appears in court over a debt of £10. A South African stranger enters the store and enquires after the jackdaw in Mrs. Broderick's possession, which he purchases for £10. The stranger turns out to be Mrs. Broderick's estranged brother who wished to give her the money without hurting her feelings. The townspeople, however, hears of the price the paid for the jackdaw and resolve to capture as many of the species as possible for export to South Africa. The real story behind the purchase eventually comes to light.

  • Play Type

    Plays General

    Number Of Acts

    One Act

  • Cast Size Male

    4

  • Cast Size Female

    2

Original Production

Original Cast  
Joseph Nestor Frank Fay
Tommy Nally Arthur Sinclair
Timothy Ward J M Kerrigan
Mrs Broderick Sara Allgood
Michael Cooney W.G. Fay
Sibby Fahy Brigid O'Dempsey

Published Scripts

  • Title

    The Jackdaw

  • Year

    1907

  • Published By

    G.P. Putnam's Sons

  • Address

    England

Rights Information

  • Copyright Expired

Source Of Information

The information for this entry was taken from the original production programme and Ireland's Abbey Theatre: A History 1899-1951 by Lennox Robinson, with additional information from press cuttings of the time.