Moll E-Book

John B. Keane

• Herausgeber: Mercier Press
• Kategorie: Poesie und Drama
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2014

Beschreibung

Moll is a hilarious and highly successful comedy about life in an Irish country presbytery.'When a presbytery gets a new housekeeper it becomes like a country that gets a change of government, or like a family that gets a new stepmother'. Moll Kettle would work for no less than a canon for, in her own words, 'Tis hard to come back to the plain black and white when one is used to the purple'. John B. Keane was one of Ireland's most prolific and respected literary figures. He was born in 1928 in Listowel, County Kerry and it was here that he spent his literary career, running a pub which provided him with inspiration for his characters and ideas. His first play, 'Sive', was presented by the Listowel Drama Group and won the All-Ireland Drama Festival in 1959. It was followed by another success, 'Sharon's Grave', in 1960. 'The Field' (1965) and 'Big Maggie' (1969), are widely regarded as classics of the modern Irish stage and jewels in a crown which includes such popular hits as 'Many Young Men of Twenty', 'The Man from Clare', 'Moll', 'The Chastitute' and 'The Year of the Hiker'. His large canon of plays have been seen abroad in cities as far afield as Moscow and Los Angeles. 'Big Maggie' ran on Broadway for over two months in 1982 and 'The Field' was adapted into an Oscar-winning Hollywood film, starring Brenda Fricker and Richard Harris, in 1991.

Leseprobe

MERCIER PRESS 3B Oak House, Bessboro Rd Blackrock, Cork, Ireland.

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© The Estate of John B. Keane, 1991

ISBN: 978 1 78117 274 2 Epub ISBN: 978 1 78117 275 9 Mobi ISBN: 978 1 78117 276 6

Moll is a copyright play and may not be performed without a licence. Application for a licence for amateur performances must be made in advance. Terms for professional performances may be had from JBK Occasions, 37 William Street, Listowel, Co. Kerry.

This eBook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.

Inhalt

CHARACTERS

ACT ONE

SCENE ONE

BRIDGE ACT ONE, SCENE ONE TO SCENE TWO

BRIDGE ACT ONE, SCENE TWO TO SCENE THREE

BRIDGE ACT ONE, SCENE THREE TO SCENE FOUR

ACT TWO

SCENE ONE

BRIDGE ACT TWO, SCENE ONE TO SCENE TWO

ABOUT THE PUBLISHER

OTHER TITLES BY THIS AUTHOR

CHARACTERS

Father BrestBarry McGovernBridgie AndoverJoan Brosnan WalshCanon PrattMick LallyFather LoranRonan SmithMollMicheál Ó BriainUlickA carpenter, Sive’s sweetheartThe BishopDerry PowerDirectorBrian de SalvoDesignerBláithín SheerinLightingRupert MurrayProducersBen BarnesArthur LappinExecutive producerRonan Smith

This revised version of Moll was first presented by Groundwork in association with Gaiety Entertainments at the Gaiety Theatre on 10 June 1991.

ACT ONE

SCENE ONE

To set a scene or provide an amusing philosophical commentary on the preceding one, a series of extracts from Canon Pratt’s diary have been selected with appropriate accompanying action on the fore-stage. These ‘front cloth’ vignettes also enable the stage to be set for the following scene and ensure a continual flow of action.

Pratt:

After the new money came things were never the same at the presbytery. Till then summers came and summers went each one much like the last. Ballast was a poor parish but God was good and even the weather was good sometimes and we went about our duties without a bother on us.

Until the summer of that fateful year of our Lord 1971 when the money went decimal. Oh it had a most shocking and deleterious effect on some people. Why else would our housekeeper of twenty years, the honest, sober, industrious and respectable Letitia Bottomley suddenly up and marry an American tourist and emigrate to New Jersey in the United States of America, there to open a diner which she entitled ‘The Black Bottom Bistro’?

Yirra, ’twas the decimal money that drove the poor woman demented and left us with the onerous duty of finding a new housekeeper …

The curtain rises to reveal the dining cum sitting-room of the parochial house in the town and parish of Ballast. Seated at one end of a large table to left of audience but facing them for the most part are three priests. Two are young whereas the one in the middle is elderly and exhibits the purple of a canon here and there. Seated at the other end of the table at right of audience but fully facing them is a large, dour woman of advanced years. She is Miss Andover. She wears hat and coat and has a large handbag held tightly in front of her. The curates are Fr Loran, the younger and Fr Brest, the older. The parish priest is Canon Pratt. In front of the priests are neat files to which they resort from time to time. As the curtain rises the priests and canon are seen to be exchanging whispers and confidences. Miss Andover strains forward trying to catch what they are saying. Fr Brest becomes aware of this and alerts the others who immediately pay full attention to Miss Andover.

Time: One morning not too long ago.

Fr Brest:

It says here, Miss Andover, in this most recent reference from the late Fr Hennessy that you take a drink on occasion. Does this mean intoxicating drink?

Miss

Andover:

(Looks away when she answers) For all I take of it father, I don’t know why he mentioned it at all, the Lord be good to the man.

Fr Brest:

Yes, yes … You do take intoxicating drink however?

Miss

Andover:

On very rare occasions father, barring I had a cold or pains or the like.

Fr Brest

I see. (To others) Any further questions?

Canon Pratt:

Supposing you were to get the job Miss Andover, would you require extra help?

Miss

Andover:

Well, I would have to have a maid naturally. There’s three of you ….

Canon Pratt:

And what sort of salary would you be expecting?

Miss

Andover:

God knows canon seeing the way everything’s gone up since the money went decimal if I get’s the job, I’d need ten pounds a week.

Fr Brest:

It says here, Miss Andover, that you are a good, natural cook.

Miss

Andover:

I’m all that father.

Fr Brest:

I’m sure you are. Tell me. What is meant by natural?

Miss

Andover:

Yirra, the Lord be good to the poor man father, he always ate what I put in front of him and there was never a word out of him.

Fr Brest:

I’m sure he did. It’s just that the expression is so unusual. (To others) These are not the kind of words that automatically link each other. Usually we hear of plain cooks and excellent cooks. I’ve even heard of simple cooks but a natural cook … now that’s a new one.

Fr Loran:

(Entering into the spirit of things) I see what you mean. Could it be that cooking comes natural to her, that she is a sort of genius at it? (Uses hand to explain) Jack Dempsey was a natural fighter and … take Caruso … he was a natural singer, sure Jack Doyle was both. Say a fellow goes out and plays golf for the first time and doesn’t miss the ball the first swing … well he’s natural. (There is a sobering cough from Canon Pratt, curates are attentive at once) Sorry canon.

Fr Brest:

(To Miss Andover) Now Miss Andover I would like to submit you to a small test. (Miss Andover jumps up, almost falls, recovers and sits)

Miss

Andover:

You won’t put a hand on me. I was never touched by the hand of a man …

Fr Brest:

It’s not a physical test. I’ll merely mention a particular word or group of words and you say whatever comes into your mind. Do you understand?

Miss

Andover:

All right. I’ll chance it.

Fr Brest:

Wardrobe!

Miss

Andover:

Bottle of gin!

Fr Brest:

Sweet tooth!

Miss

Andover:

Porter cake!

Fr Brest:

Sunday morning!

Miss

Andover:

Gin and tonic!

Fr Brest:

Cold in the nose!

Miss

Andover:

Bloody Mary!

Canon Pratt:

Sacristy!

Miss

Andover:

Altar wine!

(All three exchange knowing looks)

Fr Brest:

Thank you Miss Andover. We know all we need to know. You’ll be hearing from us. (Exit Miss Andover. Canon Pratt produces a pipe which he proceeds to light. Fr Brest rises and lights a cigarette. Fr Loran reads through a file) There’s a right wan!

Canon Pratt:

The standard’s dropped. Good housekeepers are not to be had.

Fr Brest:

You must remember there’s plenty of work in factories and hotels.

Canon Pratt:

They don’t seem anxious to make a career out of it any more. When I was a young man it was a great temptation to widows and spoiled nuns and the likes … but now they prefer the outside.

Fr Brest:

But they can have the outside morning, noon and night. A parish priest’s housekeeper isn’t the same as a nun.

Canon Pratt:

(Thoughtfully) They used to be. They used to be very like them in manner and in obedience. (To Brest) By the way you were on the ball about the drinking.

Fr Brest:

I knew her late employer, Fr Dick Hennessy. Dineaway Dick the teachers of the parish used to call him.

Canon Pratt:

Why Dineaway?

Fr Brest:

Don’t you see? He never dined at home.

Canon Pratt:

Why didn’t he say as much in the reference?

Fr Brest:

He couldn’t.

Canon Pratt:

Why couldn’t he?

Fr Brest:

Because he wasn’t able. The Lord have mercy on the poor man he could never bring himself to say a hard word about anyone.

Canon Pratt:

That’s why you questioned her about the drink?

Fr Brest:

Of course. You may be sure if Dick Hennessy said she took a drink on occasion what he really meant was that she was a cross between a wine-taster and a dipsomaniac.

Canon Pratt:

And this business about her being a natural cook?

Fr Brest:

That she served up the food natural, that is to say she did not bother much with the cooking of it beforehand.

Canon Pratt:

Ah ...

Fr Brest:

Gentlemen, we’re in a spot. Here we were without a trouble in the world, as united as three leaves on a shamrock, and as well disposed to each other as if we were brothers and now we are left to look out for ourselves. You’ll never know the true worth of a real housekeeper till she’s gone. Losing Miss Bottomley was like losing a mother.

Canon Pratt:

(Reverentially) Lads, do you remember her pickled tongue? Her beef stew?

Fr Loran:

Her shepherd’s pie, canon!

Fr Brest:

Her stuffed pork!

Fr Loran:

Her colcannon, canon!

Canon Pratt:

Jasus what she couldn’t do with a duck! And lads do you remember her cockle and mussel soup? The smell of it, the taste of it. (They fall silent, basking in the memory of such culinary delights) This is torture lads, sheer torture. Where were we?