Plays

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Maurice Harte

A Play in Two Acts

OVERVIEW

  • Playwright

    T.C. Murray 

  • Setting

    Somewhere near Macroom, rural County Cork

  • Synopsis

    In 'Maurice Harte' the main character suffers a nervous breakdown resulting from family pressure, manifesting in the Irish devotion to the priesthood as a source of both religious honour and social status. Ellen Harte, Maurice’s mother, wants a priest in the family. Maurice wants something other than what his family does. “Tisn’t to-day not yesterday I realised my own nature . . . But I buried my wretched secret in my soul.” This is the root conflict in the play. Maurice receives no support from either his family or the local parish priest, Father Mangan. The results for Maurice are tragic and heartwrenching.

  • Play Type

    Plays General

    Number Of Acts

    Full-Length

  • Cast Size Male

    5

  • Cast Size Female

    2

Original Production

Original Cast  
Peter Mangan Udolphus Wright
Maurice Harte Fred O'Donovan (1)
Mrs O'Connor Eileen O'Doherty
Michael Harte Arthur Sinclair
Father Mangan Sydney J Morgan
Owen Harte J A O'Rourke
Ellen Harte Sara Allgood
Production Team  
Produced by Lennox Robinson

Published Scripts

Rights Information

  • Territory

    All Territories

  • Rights Type

    All Rights

  • Contact

    Colin Smythe Ltd.

  • Address

    P. O. Box 6, Gerrards Cross
    Buckinghamshire
    SL9 8XA
    England

  • Phone

    +44 (0) 1753 886000

  • Email

    cs@colinsmythe.co.uk

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. The synopsis was provided by Martin Munroe.