Brian Friel (1929–2015)

A masterful, heart-wrenching depiction of memory and trauma. Adding this so I remember to read the script now that I've watched it—there's no way a single viewing was enough to catch all the nuances.

Surprisingly easy to read as a - Play. I nearly didn’t, thinking it wouldn’t flow, but it did and I quickly got used to reading directions and narration as one. Lovely story of five unwed Irish sisters living together on a shoestring in Ballybeg. They have all the usual struggles of not having enough money yet kept themselves happy with an unreliable, battery radio and their love of music.

Read for my OU course.

I would be interested to see this performed in the theatre, although all the music/dancing might become a bit tiresome.

I enjoyed it overall, but I think I liked the film better. Felt weird to read the climactic scene of the film in the first half of the play. Father Jack comes out better in this, at least. I appreciated the narrowed focus of scenery and how storytelling played a crucial role in moving along the plot. The narration threw me off, though.