The HostageAn essential text in the development of modern British drama First staged by Joan Littlewood's Theatre Workshop company at the Theatre Royal, Stratford East, London, in 1958, The Hostage is a play about a Cockney soldier held as a hostage in a Dublin lodging house in exchange for an IRA man who is to be hanged in Belfast. Civic Guards accidentally shoot him in a raid on the house. It is a witty and often profound comment on Anglo-Irish relationships and on the Irish themselves. This is Behan's best-known and most popular play and a classic of the modern stage.A magnificent entertainment which "crowds in tragedy and comedy, bitterness and love, caricature and portrayal, ribaldry and eloquence, patriotism and cynicism..." (Harold Hobson, The Times) |
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Common terms and phrases
anyway audience Belfast Jail better bloody break bring Captains COLETTE coming dance David dead dear death don’t drink Edward Bond England English enters father fighting five girl give goes Guards hand hang he’s head heard heart I.R.A. OFFICER Ireland Irish It’s keep Kings laughing leave Leslie living look marry mean Methuen mind MISS GILCHRIST MONSEWER morning mother MULLEADY never night OFFICER Patrick person Plays poor PRINCESS GRACE prisoner rent RIO RITA ROPEEN round rushes RUSSIAN SAILOR seen shut side sings SOLDIER song soul speak stage stairs stand starts stop stout sure talk tell TERESA Thank There’s thing told trouble turns volumes VOLUNTEER walk What’s whore young