{"product_id":"book-qbjb","title":"The Playboy of the Western World \u0026 The Well of Saints","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eTwo of J M Synge's remarkable plays and an exploration of the man, his work and his life on the Aran Islands \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eJ M Synge was one of the giants of Irish theatre, and a leading dramatist of the Irish Literary Renaissance. Together with W B Yeats and others, he co-founded Dublin's famous Abbey Theatre in 1904, and was a director there until his death in 1909. He is best known for his comic masterpiece \u003ci\u003eThe Playboy of the Western World\u003c\/i\u003e, which appears here alongside his dark comedy \u003ci\u003eThe Well of the Saints \u003c\/i\u003eand the illuminating documentary \u003ci\u003eSynge Song. \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Playboy of the Western World\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e - When handsome adventurer Christy Mahon walks into a pub in County Mayo, claiming to have killed his violent father, landlord's daughter Pegeen is smitten. She's not the only villager to be beguiled by his bravery and his tall tales, and Christy soon achieves the status of local hero - until another stranger arrives in town… \u003cb\u003eAisling O'Sullivan\u003c\/b\u003e and \u003cb\u003eFinbar Lynch\u003c\/b\u003e star in this classic play, which caused riots during its opening run at the Abbey Theatre in 1907.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Well of the Saints\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e - Set in a lonely, mountainous district of Ireland, this blackly comic play tells the story of Martin and Mary Doul, old, blind beggars who have been tricked by the local villagers into believing they are beautiful. A wandering saint restores their sight with water from a holy well, but this miracle cure brings more problems than it solves, as their eyes are opened to their own ugliness and the harsh realities of life. Starring Cyril Cusack and Marie Kean, this 1971 radio production was broadcast to mark the 100\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e anniversary of Synge's birth.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eSynge Song\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e - Before he was a playwright, Synge was a talented composer, and a sense of music informs everything he wrote for the stage. Visiting the Aran Islands, where Synge spent several summers, musician and writer Ann Mann looks at the sights and sounds that inspired him, talking to Aran Islanders and Synge scholars about the source of his unique language - his 'Synge song.' Interspersed with their insights are extracts from his compositions for violin and piano, and readings from his work by Kate Binchy and Jim Norton.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFirst published 1905 (\u003ci\u003eThe Well of the Saints\u003c\/i\u003e), 1907 (\u003ci\u003eThe Playboy of the Western World\u003c\/i\u003e)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eCast and credits\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWritten by J M Synge\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Playboy of the Western World\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePegeen Mike - \u003cb\u003eAisling O'Sullivan\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eChristy Mahon - \u003cb\u003eFinbar Lynch\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSean Kheough - \u003cb\u003eLloyd Hutchinson\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWidow Quin - \u003cb\u003eDillie Keane\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOld Mahon - \u003cb\u003eMichael Elphick\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMichael James - \u003cb\u003eJohn Rowe\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePhilly Cullan - \u003cb\u003eDavid Bannerman\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eJimmy Farrell - \u003cb\u003eAnthony Ofoegbu\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSarah Tansey - \u003cb\u003eAnne-Marie Duff\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSusan Braidy - \u003cb\u003eJanet Maw\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHonor Blake - \u003cb\u003eTracy Ann Oberman\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAdapted for radio and produced by Peter Kavanagh\u003cbr\u003eFirst broadcast BBC Radio 4, 6 October 1997\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Well of the Saints\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMartin Doul - \u003cb\u003eCyril Cusack\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMary Doul - \u003cb\u003eMarie Kean\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTimmy - \u003cb\u003eKevin Flood\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMolly Byrne - \u003cb\u003eKate Binchy\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBride - \u003cb\u003eRosalind Shanks\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMat Simon - \u003cb\u003eAlan Barry\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Saint - \u003cb\u003eMartin Dempsey\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eReader - \u003cb\u003eDenys Hawthorne\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eProduced by John Scotney\u003cbr\u003eFirst broadcast BBC Radio 4, 13 September 1971\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eSynge Song\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePresented by Ann Mann\u003cbr\u003eMusic performed by Krysia Ostostowicz and Timothy Carey\u003cbr\u003eReadings by Kate Binchy and Jim Norton\u003cbr\u003eProduced by Piers Plowright\u003cbr\u003eFirst broadcast BBC Radio 4, 21 January 1994\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e© 2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Penguin UK","offers":[{"title":"Audiobook","offer_id":67151568568624,"sku":"BDqbjb","price":11.67,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0879\/2784\/9264\/files\/qbjb-Square-cover.jpg?v=1782532624","url":"https:\/\/downpour.com\/products\/book-qbjb","provider":"Downpour","version":"1.0","type":"link"}