OVERVIEW

• Playwright

  Maura Molloy 

• Setting

  The scene is laid in and around Valerian Hall, the family seat of the Pommerys, in a remote corner of South-West Ireland.
  The action covers 56 years.
  Act 1 - 1881
  Act 2 - 1900, 1921
  Act 3 - 1937

• Synopsis

  The tragic story of three generations of the Pommery family, once-great owners of Valerian Hall. Charles Pommery is a stern father to Cressida and makes poor decisions in over-regulating her love-life. She in turn becomes an embittered creature, determined to visit a similarly abusive upbringing on her orphaned nephew whom she locks away from the world until he is 21 and become a half-wit from lack of stimulus. Valerian Hall eventually burns down and with it the glorious history of the family that built it.

• Play Type

  Plays General
  

  Number Of Acts

  Full-Length

Cast size

• Male

  6

• Female

  3

• Total

  9

Original Production

• Date of First Production

  17 May 1937

• Producer

  Produced by Abbey Theatre/Amharclann na Mainistreach

• Original Venue

  Abbey Theatre/Amharclann na Mainistreach
  

Source Of Information

The information for this entry was taken from the original production programme and from press cuttings.