Description

First performed in 1959, Sive by the legendary playwright John B. Keane remains a towering, explosive pillar of Irish dramatic literature. Set in the bleak and isolated bogs of rural Ireland, this dark folk tragedy exposes the devastating consequences of greed, poverty, and the transactional nature of human relationships before the modern era.

The play tells the story of Sive, a young, innocent, and illegitimate schoolgirl living with her uncle and his bitter wife. When a malicious local matchmaker, Thomasheen Sean Rua, concocts a plan to marry Sive off to Sean Dota—a wealthy, lecherous septuagenarian farmer—for a substantial sum of money, a fierce battle erupts between youthful love and cold, calculating greed. Rich with authentic Hiberno-English dialogue, traditional song, and the haunting presence of traveling tinkers, the play builds to a shattering, unforgettable climax.

A frequent fixture on the Irish school curriculum (Leaving Certificate English) and a favorite for theatre groups nationwide, this edition published by Mercier Press is a mandatory read. It provides a searing indictment of historical societal hypocrisies while offering timeless entertainment through its brilliant characterizations.