Irish Theater in America: Essays on Irish Theatrical Diaspora »

John P. Harrington is dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York. He is author of several books including The Irish Beckett and The Life of the Neighborhood Playhouse on Grand Street, also published by Syracuse University Press.

For more than 150 years, Irish playwrights, beginning with Dion Boucicault, have been celebrated by American audiences. However, Irish theater as represented on the American stage is merely a sampling of the national drama, and the underlying causes of Irish dramatic success in America illuminate the cultural state of both countries at specific historical moments. Irish Theater in America is the first book devoted entirely to the long history of this transatlantic exchange.

Born out of the Irish Theatrical Diaspora project, this collection brings together leading American and Irish scholars with established theater critics. The contributors explore the history of Irish theater in America, from Harrigan and Hart to the recent productions of senior Irish playwrights such as Brian Friel and younger writers such as Martin McDonagh and Conor McPherson. Examining the complexity of the relationship between Irish theater and American audiences, this volume goes beyond analyses of plays to include examinations of company dynamics, tours of companies and actors, audience reception, and the production history of individual works.

Contributors include

Christopher L. Berchild
Joan FitzPatrick Dean
Claire Gleitman
Nicholas Grene
John P. Harrington
Peter Kuch
Patrick Lonergan
Christina Hunt Mahony
Lucy McDiarmid
Deirdre McFeely
Mick Moloney
Maureen Murphy
Gwen Orel

Introduction John P. Harrington Harrington, John P.

1 Harrigan, Hart, and Braham: Irish America and the Birth of the American Musical Mick Moloney Moloney, Mick 1

2 From Scapegrace to Grasta: Popular Attitudes and Stereotypes in Irish American Drama Maureen Murphy Murphy, Maureen 19

3 Ireland Rearranged: Contemporary Irish Drama and the Irish American Stage Christopher L. Berchild Berchild, Christopher L. 38

4 Between Two Worlds: Boucicault's The Shaughaun and Its New York Audience Deirdre McFeely McFeely, Deirdre 54

5 Reporting the Stage Irishman: Dion Boucicault in the Irish Press Gwen Orel Orel, Gwen 66

6 Kilkenny, Melbourne, New York: George Tallis and the Irish Theatrical Diaspora Peter Kuch Kuch, Peter 78

7 The Abbey, Its "Helpers," and the Field of Cultural Production in 1913 Lucy McDiarmid McDiarmid, Lucy 93

8 Mac Liammoir's The Importance of Being Oscar in America Joan Fitzpatrick Dean Dean, Joan Fitzpatrick 103

9 Beckett and America John P. Harrington Harrington, John P. 114

10 Another Look at Those "Three Bollocks in a Cell": Someone Who'll Watch Over Me and the Shackles of History Claire Gleitman Gleitman, Claire 124

11 Faith Healer in New York and Dublin Nicholas Grene Grene, Nicholas 138

12 "Dancing on a One-Way Street": Irish Reactions to Dancing at Lughnasa in New York Patrick Lonergan Lonergan, Patrick 147

13 "The Irish Play": Beyond the Generic? Christina Hunt Mahony Mahony, Christina Hunt 163

Notes 179

Bibliography 195

Index 205