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P.G. O'Dea

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P.G. O'Dea (7 November 1898 – 1982)[1] was an Irish playwright known for his comedic plays and contributions to Irish amateur theatre in the mid-20th century.

P.G. O'Dea
Born
Patrick Gerard O'Dea

(1898-11-07)7 November 1898
Limerick, Ireland
Died12 March 1982(1982-03-12) (aged 83)[citation needed]
Dublin, Ireland
Occupation(s)Teacher, playwright

Biography

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Born in Limerick in 1898, O'Dea spent most of his life in Athlone, where he taught at the local technical school,[2] known locally as "The Tech".[3][4] From his home at Court Devenish,[5] located near the River Shannon, he wrote a series of plays that were the subject of positive reviews within Ireland's amateur theatre circuit.[6][7][8] After retiring from teaching, O'Dea relocated to Dublin, where he lived until his death in 1982.[1]

Works

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O'Dea's work as a playwright spanned several decades, during which he wrote numerous plays, including Poor Jimmy, Johnnie's Britches, A Man of Ideas, and Down the Middle. His plays often explored themes of Irish identity, politics, and social life,[2][9] and were characterized by a blend of humour and critical observation. His works were popular in the Irish amateur theatre circuit in the mid-20th century.[10][11][12]

While he initially wrote under the pseudonym 'Morgan Brookes'.[13][14] O'Dea's true identity was revealed, by a fellow educator, following a performance of Kitty Breaks the Ice in 1946.[13]

Johnnie's Britches won the 3-act Confined Competition at the Western Drama Festival in 1947, receiving praise from adjudicator Lennox Robinson as "one of the most entertaining he had ever seen".[15][9] In the conservative cultural climate of mid-20th century Ireland, however, Johnnie's Britches faced some backlash over its title. A Protestant minister, for example, criticised the word "britches" as indecent.[16] As a result, the title was temporarily abbreviated to "Johnnie",[17] and some dramatic societies adopted the alternative title "Don Juan's Pantaloons".[16] However, the original title was restored in later printings,[18] and "Johnnie's Britches" continued to be performed under its original name.[16]

Later life and legacy

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After retiring from teaching, O'Dea moved to Dublin.[9] His plays continued to be staged over the years, often from well-worn scripts that had survived the passage of time.[19][9]

P.G. O'Dea's plays have experienced a revival across Ireland in the early 21st century,[9] with performances being staged in several regions and in the USA. For example, A Man of Ideas was revived in 2014 by the New Haven Gaelic Players in Connecticut, USA, decades after its original performances in Ireland.[20] Poor Jimmy has also seen renewed interest, with performances across the country, including in County Kerry[21] and County Cork.[22] Johnnie's Britches, historically a "crowd favourite",[5] was staged by Beezneez Theatre Company as part of a 2012 nationwide tour in Ireland,[23] which included a performance at the Civic Theatre in Tallaght.[19][24]

O'Dea also wrote a song titled "Dear Love", which was used as part of the Centenary of the Easter Rising commemorations at the RTÉ All Ireland Drama Festival in Athlone.[25][26]

Selected works

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  • Kitty Breaks the Ice (1943)
  • Johnnie's Britches (1945)
  • Bachelor Barney (1947)
  • Poor Jimmy (1947)
  • A Man of Ideas (1948)
  • Down the Middle (1949)
  • Simey's Shadow (1951)
  • Paddy the Englishman (1951)
  • The Diddler (1960)
  • Above Every Other Evil? (1962)

References

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  1. ^ a b "Remembering native city son: playwright PG O'Dea". Limerick Leader. 21 September 2024. p. 14.[verification needed]
  2. ^ a b "Real Irish Comedy". Westmeath Independent. 12 April 1947. Retrieved 7 September 2024 – via Wikimedia Commons.
  3. ^ "Former Athlone teacher's comedy returns to a local stage 64 years on..." Westmeath Independent. 23 November 2011. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  4. ^ "New portrait of Drama Festival stalwart unveiled". Westmeath Independent. 6 May 2024. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
  5. ^ a b O'Shea, Jackie (1948), English: 1948 letter to P.G. O'Dea in praise of Johnnie's Britches from the Donoughmore Dramatic Society, retrieved 9 September 2024 – via Wikimedia Commons
  6. ^ "Knocknagoshel". The Kerryman. 2 March 1957. Retrieved 7 September 2024 – via Wikimedia Commons.
  7. ^ "Magherabuoy Players". Ballymena Weekly Telegraph. 27 April 1956. Retrieved 7 September 2024 – via Wikimedia Commons.
  8. ^ "Johnny". Leinster Express. 11 May 1957. Retrieved 7 September 2024 – via Wikimedia Commons.
  9. ^ a b c d e "Renewed interest in work of late Athlone playwright". Westmeath Independent. 26 September 2020.
  10. ^ "Grand Concert and Variety Entertainment". Wexford Free Press. 29 January 1949. Retrieved 7 September 2024 – via Wikimedia Commons.
  11. ^ "Johnny on Tour". Waterford News and Star. 6 March 1959. Retrieved 7 September 2024 – via Wikimedia Commons.
  12. ^ "Johnnie's Britches". Kilkenny People. 28 May 1949. Retrieved 7 September 2024 – via Wikimedia Commons.
  13. ^ a b "Kitty Breaks the Ice: new play produced in Athlone". Westmeath Independent. 4 February 1946 – via Wikimedia Commons.
  14. ^ English: Johnnie's Britches by P.G. O'Dea advertised under pseudonym 'Morgan Brookes', 7 September 2024, retrieved 7 September 2024 – via Wikimedia Commons
  15. ^ "Classic comedy returns to stage". Irish Independent. 1 August 2012. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  16. ^ a b c "Johnnie's Britches Event". The New Theatre. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  17. ^ "'Johnnie' Takes the Stage". Carlow Nationalist. 11 May 1957. Retrieved 6 September 2024 – via Wikimedia Commons.
  18. ^ English: original scripts, alternate titles 'Johnnie' and 'Johnnie's Britches' by P.G. O'Dea, and pseudonym 'Morgan Brookes', 8 September 2024, retrieved 8 September 2024 – via Wikimedia Commons
  19. ^ a b Dennehy, Mary (12 June 2012). "Johnnie's Britches comes to Tallaght". Tallaght Echo. p. 42.
  20. ^ Simms, Jason (7 November 2014). "New Haven Gaelic Players' 'Man of Ideas' opens Wednesday at Irish American Center". New Haven Register. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  21. ^ "Spike Back with Poor Jimmy in Knocknagoshel". The Maine Valley Post. 2 February 2018. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  22. ^ "Poor Jimmy - Castlemagner Players". millstreet.ie. 2 November 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  23. ^ "Beezneez Britches finally makes The Dock". Leitrim Observer. 7 August 2012. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  24. ^ "Civic Theatre, Johnnie's Britches". Dundrum Gazette. 28 June 2012. p. 24. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
  25. ^ "Kilmainham Tales". kilmainhamtales.ie. 2 September 2024. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  26. ^ "Rising inspired music and song at Athlone Little Theatre". Westmeath Independent. 23 April 2016. Retrieved 2 September 2024 – via Wikimedia Commons.
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