Seven Short Plays

A lively anthology of seven one‑act pieces brings the spirit of early‑twentieth‑century Irish theatre straight to the ear. The works range from stark tragedies rooted in folk legend to witty “tragic comedies” and outright farces, each packed with the cadence and charm of rural speech. Together they offer a snapshot of a community’s hopes, quarrels, and humor, all filtered through a playwright who loved to let ordinary voices carry extraordinary stories.

The opening number, “Spreading the News,” drops listeners into a bustling fair where a pompous new magistrate and his officious policeman interrogate a humble apple seller. Their blustering inquiries about crime, trade, and “unlicensed goods” clash with the vendor’s simple, matter‑of‑fact chatter, creating a comic clash of authority and everyday life. As the dialogue spins, listeners hear the subtle satire of bureaucracy versus the resilient, talk‑filled world of the Irish countryside, setting the tone for the rest of the collection.