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General & Miscellaneous Drama, British & Irish Drama
Molly Sweeney by Brian Friel β€” book cover

Molly Sweeney

by Brian Friel
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Overview

Three points of view about a poignant drama are related by three characters addressing the audience directly. First there is Molly, blind since early infancy, who describes her world before and after an operation to restore some of her sight. Her husband, Frank, who pushed Molly into this operation, relates his view of his wife's journey into sightedness and his dealings with her doctor. Molly's once-famous eye surgeon, Mr. Rice, watches both Molly and Frank and reveals his opinion of them along with his own fears in handling the operation. Through it all we see each character's painful and happy histories, their memories and the events that led them to meet. Their stories interweave on stage, threading in and around each other's lives, until the unexpected and touching conclusion to this striking tale.

Synopsis

Three points of view about a poignant drama are related by three characters addressing the audience directly. First there is Molly, blind since early infancy, who describes her world before and after an operation to restore some of her sight. Her husband, Frank, who pushed Molly into this operation, relates his view of his wife's journey into sightedness and his dealings with her doctor. Molly's once-famous eye surgeon, Mr. Rice, watches both Molly and Frank and reveals his opinion of them along with his own fears in handling the operation. Through it all we see each character's painful and happy histories, their memories and the events that led them to meet. Their stories interweave on stage, threading in and around each other's lives, until the unexpected and touching conclusion to this striking tale.

NY Post

Brian Friel's beautiful and dazzling MOLLY SWEENEY...is one of those marvelous onion plays...As you peel away each plump and juicy layer, another layer emerges underneath, and yet another...What a marvelous play this is! See it wander in it and wonder at it.

About the Author, Brian Friel

One of Ireland's foremost playwrights, Brian Friel has written more than twenty plays since his debut in 1965, most notably the Tony Award-winning Dancing at Lughnasa and Molly Sweeney (available in a Plume edition). Friel has been a member of the Irish Academy of Letters since 1983 and has received awards from the National University of Ireland and Queen's University in Belfast. He lives in Donegal with his wife and five children.

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Editorials

London Sunday Times

Dispassionate eloquence and psychological honesty...Brian Friel's writing has such vitality and warmth, such kindly accuracy of observation.

NY Post

Brian Friel's beautiful and dazzling MOLLY SWEENEY...is one of those marvelous onion plays...As you peel away each plump and juicy layer, another layer emerges underneath, and yet another...What a marvelous play this is! See itβ€”wander in it and wonder at it.

NY Times

Brian Friel has been recognized as Ireland's greatest living playwright...his latest work, MOLLY SWEENEY...confirms that Mr. Friel still writes like a dream.

Book Details

Published
January 1, 1996
Publisher
Dramatists Play Service, Incorporated
Format
Paperback
ISBN
9780822215325

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