The Playboy of the Western World

Ticking off another thing on the list of Irish classics I should really have read by now. This was fine. Probably better when performed live (though only by Irish actors—I struggle to imagine how a non-Irish cast would deal with the rhythms of the Hiberno-English on display here). Some of Synge's dialogue is lovely and evocative, but I thought the pacing was off and the whole thing teeters uneasily between "trenchant tragicomic social critique" and "upper-middle-class CofI guy mocks the credulous Catholic peasants."

The story of a town that has a visitor who regales them with a story of killing his father. The town fetes him and embraces him as a truly brave human being...until someone shows up that claims to be his father. A strange and disturbing work that captures the phenomenon of transitory celebrity well, and also looks at what happens when the crowd turns on you. Set in Ireland, the language is somewhat challenging at times, but nothing so difficult that you cannot understand the conversations. This work could still be staged today and speak to at least some audiences, and in fact, with the look at crowd psychology, it might be relevant in many venues.

This was not at all what I was expecting from the title. I can see that it would be funnier on stage, and the Irish dialect and vocabulary would really support the 'plot', but I mainly found it tiresome. It was also quite predictable, apart from the final twist, which I really didn't see coming.

The Playboy of the Western World is a three-act play, set in a public house on the west coast of Ireland during the early 1900s.

The word playboy did not have its present meaning in the early 20th century Ireland. It had a similar meaning to that of a con artist or a fraud. It was often used as a light hearted compliment or to tease someone. Here as the protagonist, Christy Mahon’s, tale gets increasingly colourful and implausible he is chided for being a playboy. The title of a French version of the play, Le Beau-Parleur du vaste monde, loosely meaning The World’s Greatest Storyteller, reflects this.

The Playboy of the Western World is, in essence, a dark comedy. It shows how bizarre human nature is and how quickly people can change show more their position regarding what is deemed moral and what is immoral.

The main character, Christy Mahon, going through all of the ups and downs is both amusing and sad. The way the villager’s admiration (and nothing more substantial than that) turns Christy from a timid young man to a confident playboy is startling. Even Old Mahon, Christy’s father, begins to respect and admire his son and decides to roam the world with him. And all for committing a (not so successful) crime and telling a tale about it!

The setting of the play is realistic but at the same time so fantastic and strange.

Synge’s impeccable writing makes the weird and wonderful situations of the play seem utterly normal. Not for a moment did I think that “Well, I can’t believe this just happened!”

All the characters are very human (albeit in a dramatic way!). I found them very refreshing having read a few books with rather contrived characters of late.

The Playboy of the Western World is undeniably a masterpiece! One of the few books that I’ve read this year that didn’t disappoint me. It is definitely every bit as good as I thought it would be. Highly recommended. show less

I admit, I struggle to see the significance. On the other hand, the writing of the Irish Language is beautiful.

I am glad that I both listened and read this play. This full cast recording by L.A. Theatre Works was excellent, but didn't include stage directions or descriptions. It is a radio play rather than an audiobook in that regard. I loved hearing the Irish accented voices but I would have missed a little of the experience if I hadn't had a print copy.

a wee bit silly. hard work.