Lovers (play)
Encyclopedia
Lovers is a 1967 play written by Northern Irish
playwright Brian Friel
.
Lovers is a play broken in to two parts, Winners and Losers.
The play is set atop hill with the simple premise of Mag and Joe revising for their exams. However, throughout the play they become distracted and talk on different subjects (much to Joe's annoyance) and through this we hear the further back story behind the characters.
The play ends with Mag and Joe finding a boat on the shore by a lake and deciding to take it out onto the lake. It is hinted by the Narrators ("Man" & "Woman") during the play that Mag and Joe die at the end. This is found true when it turns out that both Lovers drowned. Whether this is an accident or murder or a suicide is not stated in the play.
and do not think it is appropriate for Hanna's and Andy's relationship to continue. Mrs Wilson tries to break up their relationship by constantly ringing her bell, and wanting prayers. Towards the end of the play Andy comes home drunk and taunts Mrs Wilson and Andy that they're "Heads a marly" - a reference to the Saint Philomena whom Mrs Wilson is devout to. With this action Hanna proclaims "you'll regret this day Andy Tracey, you'll regret this day as long as you live". In the end Andy and Hanna are still together, however, they are stuck in a loveless marriage - divorce was frowned upon at the time - making them the Losers of the play.
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
playwright Brian Friel
Brian Friel
Brian Friel is an Irish dramatist, author and director of the Field Day Theatre Company. He is considered to be the greatest living English-language dramatist, hailed by the English-speaking world as an "Irish Chekhov" and "the universally accented voice of Ireland"...
.
Lovers is a play broken in to two parts, Winners and Losers.
Winners
The first section of Lovers, titled "Winners" follows the story of two teenaged lovers, Joseph Michael Brennan & Margaret Mary Enright - more commonly known as Joe and Mag respectively - who are expecting a baby. However, the pregnancy occurs out of wedlock which, at the time of Lovers being written, was a major issue. Due to Mag falling pregnant with Joe's baby they are both asked to leave their schools out of disgrace for what they have done. In the play we find out that Joe's mother pleaded with the school to let Joe sit his exams, this is a very important theme as Joe - being the man - is expected to go, find work and provide for his familyThe play is set atop hill with the simple premise of Mag and Joe revising for their exams. However, throughout the play they become distracted and talk on different subjects (much to Joe's annoyance) and through this we hear the further back story behind the characters.
The play ends with Mag and Joe finding a boat on the shore by a lake and deciding to take it out onto the lake. It is hinted by the Narrators ("Man" & "Woman") during the play that Mag and Joe die at the end. This is found true when it turns out that both Lovers drowned. Whether this is an accident or murder or a suicide is not stated in the play.
Losers
Losers is a play about two older lovers, Hanna and Andy, who are trying to make a relationship while having Hanna's mother, Mrs Wilson, and Cissy, next door neighbour, watching them constantly. Mrs Wilson and Cissy are very CatholicCatholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
and do not think it is appropriate for Hanna's and Andy's relationship to continue. Mrs Wilson tries to break up their relationship by constantly ringing her bell, and wanting prayers. Towards the end of the play Andy comes home drunk and taunts Mrs Wilson and Andy that they're "Heads a marly" - a reference to the Saint Philomena whom Mrs Wilson is devout to. With this action Hanna proclaims "you'll regret this day Andy Tracey, you'll regret this day as long as you live". In the end Andy and Hanna are still together, however, they are stuck in a loveless marriage - divorce was frowned upon at the time - making them the Losers of the play.