Sive /ˈsaɪv/ is a play by the Irish writer John B. Keane, first performed in Listowel, County Kerry in 1959.[1] Keane chose to use the name "Sive" for the play in honour of his sister, Shiela, using the Irish-Gaelic form of the name.[2]
| Sive | |
|---|---|
| Written by | John B. Keane |
| Characters | Liam Scuab Mike Glavin Mena Glavin Carthalawn Nanna Glavin Thomasheen Seán Rua Sive Pats Bocock Seán Dóta |
| Date premiered | March 1959 |
| Place premiered | Walsh's Ballroom, Listowel, Ireland |
| Original language | English |
| Subject | Illegitimacy, marriage, poverty |
| Genre | Tragedy, drama |
| Setting | Rural County Kerry, 1960s |
The play is set in rural Ireland where a set of attitudes about the battle between the generations (the young orphan Sive takes her own life rather than marrying an old man). Poverty, exploitation, marriage, greed, and love are explored.
Performance history
editAfter it was rejected by the Abbey Theatre, The Listowel Drama Group produced the play. Sive was first performed in Christy's Ballroom, Listowel, County Kerry. The play was an overall success, but John B. Keane noted that some took offence to the melodramatic content of the play, calling it blasphemous and pornographic based on the appearance of Sive as a young girl.[3]
In the first performances of the play, Nora Relihan played Mena Galvin, Margaret Dillon performed as Sive, and John B. Keane himself played Carthalawn.[4]
The play is widely known throughout Ireland, and has been taught in the Irish school system.[citation needed]
References
edit- ^ "Archives and Special Collections - James Hardiman Library: John B. Keane and 'Sive' - the Irish Dramatic Tradition". 9 February 2011.
- ^ Des., Hickey (1 January 1992). John B : the real Keane. Mercier Press. ISBN 1856350657. OCLC 28548700.
- ^ Keane, John B. (1964). Self Portrait. Cork: Mercier Press. p. 92.
Some others resented 'Sive', said it was blasphemous and ungodly, and noisily gave vent to their opinions while the play was in progress.
- ^ Keane, John B. (1964). Self Portrait. Cork: Mercier Press. pp. 87–98.