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The Poorhouse

A Comedy in One Act

Forbhreathnú

  • Drámadóir

    Lady Gregory  Douglas Hyde (Dubhghlas de hÍde) 

  • Suíomh

    Interior of a poorhouse.

  • Achoimre

    Colum and Paudeen are two peasants bed bound in a poorhouse. When the matron leaves, they taunt each other and their banteer descends into a mock fight, pillows and other objects being hurled around the place to the amusement of the others in the room. When the matron returns to restore order she has brought Colum's sister, a recent widow. Colum is asked to return home with the sister but he is unsure as to whether life will be better with her. She assures him and he decides to go. Paudeen wishes to leave as well so Colum asks his sister to allow him to go with them. She refuses so Colum remains in the poorhouse. When they are left alone again, the squabble continues.

  • Cinéal Dráma

    Drámaí Ginearálta

    Líon na Míreanna

    Aon-ghníomh

  • Cast size

  • Male

    2

  • Female

    2

  • Total

    4

Céad Léiriú

Foireann An Chéad Léirithe  
The Matron Máire O'Neill (1)
Paudeen Arthur Sinclair
Colum W.G. Fay
A Country Woman Brigid O'Dempsey

Scripteanna Foilsithe

  • Teideal

    Spreading the News/ The Poorhouse

  • Bliain

    1966

  • Foilsithe ag

    Maunsel

  • Seoladh

    Dublin
    Republic of Ireland

Eolas Faoi Chearta

  • Feic saothar eile scríbhneoirí ar leith

Foinse Eolais

The information for this entry was taken from the original production programme and Ireland's Abbey Theatre: A History 1899-1951 by Lennox Robinson, with additional information from press cuttings of the time.