I did not really get along with this Brian Friel play quite as well as the very positive critics. It is set in Ireland and concerns the translation of place names into English for the occupying English army who are making a map of the area. We start off in a hedge school school where the Gaelic-speaking locals are receiving a classical education of Greek, Latin as well as maths. Only the twins are missing from the lessons.
The arrival of the English interrupts - indeed brings to a close - this lifestyle. The two characters we see are a pair of differing ranks, the junior striking up a relationship with one of the local girls - despite the language barrier. He goes missing and the presumption is that the twins have murdered him. Terrible retribution is threatened on the community.
Of course it is an interesting evening, dealing with the power of language and the attempted extinction of culture and a way of life by an occupying force.
No comments:
Post a Comment