Schedule/Readings

UPDATED MARCH 5, 2008 

All readings and full bibliographical citations are included in the course reader, available at the Campus Bookstore. A reader is also on reserve at Stauffer Library.

Schedule and Readings are subject to change

*Historical context presentation
†Close reading presentation

Mon Jan 7 Introduction/Syllabus
Wed Jan 9 Context for Contemporary Irish Drama
Screening: Yu Ming is Ainm Dom
Mon Jan 14 Getting Started on the Research Package I

  • Michael West, Dublin by Lamplight
  • Review by Fintan O’Toole Review by Benedict Nightingale
    		•
    Wed Jan 16 Getting Started on the Research Package II
    Special Library Instruction Seminar with Elizabeth Gibson
    Location: Douglas Library Electronic classroom (main floor, turn left after entering library).
    Mon Jan 21 Themes and Issues in Contemporary Irish Drama

  • J.M. Synge, Playboy of the Western World (1907)
  • Christopher Morash, “A Night at the Theatre 4”
    		•
    Wed Jan 23† Playboy of the Western World cont.(Heather Taws, Kate Ciborowski)
    Mon Jan 28* Ghost Stories and Fairy-Tales

  • Conor McPherson, The Weir (1999)
  • Review by Fintan O’Toole
  • Scott T. Cummings, “Homo Fabulator: The Narrative Imperative in Conor McPherson’s Plays”
  • Nicholas Grene, “Ireland in Two Minds: Martin McDonagh and Conor McPherson”

    • (Kristin Greczko, Sacha Brown)
    Wed Jan 30† The Weir cont.(Caitlin Carr, Adam Wray)
    Mon Feb 4* Decorum be Damned! Violence on Stage

  • Martin McDonagh, The Beauty Queen of Leenane (1996)
  • Review of Leenane Trilogy by Fintan O’Toole
  • Karen Vandevelde, “The Gothic Soap of Martin McDonagh”

    • (Tricia Riley, Lisa Yaroski)
    Wed Feb 6† Beauty Queen/McDonagh cont.
    Screening: Six Shooter (Martin McDonagh, 2005) [Oscar for Best Short Film, Live Action]
    (Stefani Kleinburg, Shana Pereira)
    Feb 11 & 13
    		 Website Training: No readings
    Monday: Interactive demonstration on web skills
    Wednesday: MEET IN ROOM 115. Groups and topics pairs work to determine basic layout of class site. Eg. What number of pages will be created? How will topics be organised on these pages? How will images and links be incorporated?
    FEB 18-22 READING WEEK
    Mon Feb 25* Ghosts Revisited: Mythology and False Endings

  • Marina Carr, Portia Coughlan (1996)
  • Review by Medb Ruane
  • Fintan O’Toole, “Figures on a dark landscape”
  • Frank McGuinness, “Masks: An Introduction to Portia Coughlan”
  • Tom McIntyre, “Programme Note, Peacock Theatre, 1996

    • (Michel Hau, Simon Paabor)
    Wed Feb 27† Portia Coughlan cont.
    (Amanda Martinali, Jonathan Khaiat)
    Mon Mar 3* Language and Culture: What’s in a Name?

  • Brian Friel, Translations

    • (Ashley Williamson, Michelle Kelly, Danielle Sampson)
    Wed Mar 5† All Queen’s classes canceled due to inclement weather
    Mon Mar 10 Website Design and Decision-making day
    Wed Mar 12† Translations cont.
    (Laura Langlois, Megan McCarthy)
    Mon Mar 17* Protestants and Catholics: Across the Divide

  • Frank McGuinness, Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme (1985)
  • Review by Fintan O’Toole
  • Declan Kiberd, “Frank McGuinness and the Sons of Ulster”

    • (Evangelia Kambites, Dana McNeill)
    Wed Mar 19† Observe the Sons… cont.
    (Anna Diemert, Conor Moore)
    Mon Mar 24* Protestants and Catholics: Breaking down the Binary

  • Sebastian Barry, Steward of Christendom (1995)
  • Review by Fintan O’Toole
  • Jim Haughey, “Standing in the Gap: Sebastian Barry’s Revisionist Theatre”

    • (Laura Moniz, Stephen Sullivan)
    Wed Mar 26† Steward of Christendom cont.
    (Emily Veryard, Kendra Tyre)
    Mon Mar 31 The Waning Authority of the Catholic Church: The Magdalene Laundries on Stage

    • Patricia Burke Brogan, Eclipsed (1992)
    • Review by Thomas Bruno
    • Review by Anita Gates
    Wed Apr 2 The Magdalene Laundries on Stage and Screen

    • Continuation of Eclipsed discussion with addition of clips from The Magdalene Sisters (Peter Mullan, 2002)
    • Review by Stephen Holden
    • Review by Fintan O’Toole
    • Jonathan Murray, “Convents or Cowboys? Millennial Scottish and Irish film industries and imaginaries in The Magdalene Sisters”