The Alternative Dramatic Revival in Ireland 1987 - 1913

This research monograph a takes a bracing new look at the pieties and received scholarship dealing with the Irish Dramatic Revival of the late 19th and early 20 th century. Dr Vandevelde has reexamined the non canonical Irish theatre world and focuses on the understudied and the misunderstood world of commercial Dublin theatres, The Gaelic League and Daughters of Erin, National Players, The Player's Club, Ulster Literary Theatre among numerous amateur, semi-professional and professional companies. She has a closely argued reinterpretation of the dramas of Padraic Pearse, the Markieviczes and Johanna Redmond. Besides discussing the plays and playwrights of Ireland who wrote in English and Irish and were not involved with the well know Abbey Theatre world, Dr Vandevelde also investigates six key plays (all are reprinted here, some for the first time since 1913). These include Padraic Colum's THE FIDDLER'S HOUSE, Count Casimir Markevicz's THE MEMORY OF THE DEAD, Seamus MacManus THE LAD FROM LARGYMORE, Gerald MacNamara's THOMPSON IN TIR-NA-OG, Seamus O 'Beirn's AN DOICHTAIR,and Johanna Redmond's FALSELY TRUE.
" ..(A) major contribution to the understanding of Irish-language and English-language players and plays. Posits a more inclusive and intellectually stimulating theatre world than the usual Abbey-centric hagiography. Inclusion of the plays is a marvelous help to our understanding."
Dr.James Murphy, NYCIS