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The Arts Council Playography Na Gaeilge

Plays

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The Jew's Fiddle

OVERVIEW

  • Playwright

    Richard Hayward 

  • Notes

    The cast and character lists for this entry are drawn from reviews of the premiere production. As such, cast size details should be taken as approximate.

  • Synopsis

    Mary Connor is the wife of a jealous merchant seaman John Connor. One night, as she impatiently awaits his return, Mary is visited by Tom Farrell, her former sweetheart whose love she no longer reciprocates. When she hears a knock at the door, Mary panics at the possibility that her husband may have returned early and goes to hide Farrell. The visitor, however, turns out to be Isaac Perleman, a Jewish pedlar from whom she is in the process of buying a violin for her husband. As she pays off another instalment, Mary discovers that her husband, who disapproves of the Jew, is indeed coming, and she hides Perleman too. John Connor arrives and finds Perleman, but is remorseful on discovering Mary's efforts on his behalf and pays the outstanding bill. Perleman insists on taking him out for a drink out of courtesy, and Farrell seizes his opportunity to escape unseen. The play ends happily, and Mary's good name is retained.

  • Play Type

    Plays General

    Number Of Acts

    One Act

  • Cast Size Male

    3

  • Cast Size Female

    2

Original Production

Original Cast  
Mrs. O'Rorke Marion Crimmins
Tom Fallon Norman Gray
John Connor Charles K. Ayre
Isaac Perleman J.G. Abbey
Mary Connor Muriel Woods

Published Scripts

  • Title

    The Jew's Fiddle

  • Year

    1921

  • Published By

    Talbot Press

  • Address

    Dublin
    Republic of Ireland

Rights Information

  • Not Found

Source Of Information

Information for this entry has come from reviews of the premiere production, and from Margaret McHenry's 'The Ulster Theatre in Ireland'