Left alone, Hester goes to slit her own throat, but is interrupted by little Josie, who wants to stay with her mother. Michael Billington @billicritic. Hester then meets with Carthage and begs him not to leave her. The play, like the Greek tragedy on which it is based, takes place all in one day. [11], The character of Hester has been interpreted as a witch by scholars and critics alike, though she does not explicitly practice witchcraft in the play. She knows it is an ill omen for her but she remains defiant. Michael Billington @billicritic. Context. In this myth, the sorceress Medea marries the hero Jasonand has two children with him. GradeSaver "By the Bog of Cats Summary". Hester informs him that Carthage took Joseph’s money, used it to buy land for himself, and left Hester for another woman. The play traces the events of the last day in the life of Hester Swane, a tinker who lives by the Bog of Cats. Xavier Cassidy: Xavier is a farmer who schemes to marry his daughter to someone he can easily control since his daughter cannot inherit his land. Hester is a wild one who hankers to spend her life on the bleak landscape BY THE BOG OF CATS yearning for her crazy long lost mother. She also interrupts the bride’s father’s toast in order to make her own speech about her son. Browse 87 by the bog of cats photocall stock photos and images available or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. [9], A recent production of By the Bog of Cats premiered at Chicago's Artistic Home Theater on February 15 and ran through April 15. Finally, the Catwoman is acknowledged by the characters as a psychic: she speaks of the many visions she has had that came true, and during his wedding Carthage asks her for a prediction. They talk about Hester’s mother, Big Josie Swane, and the fact that she abandoned Hester when Hester was seven years old. Hester speaks with her dead brother, Joseph, and tells him that she did not kill him for money, but because she was jealous of the love that their mother showed to him. The Question and Answer section for By the Bog of Cats is a great Carthage built the house for Hester. [9] Reid contends that the play has not been produced locally since the defunct Irish Repertory of Chicago produced it in 2001.[9]. GradeSaver, Read the Study Guide for By the Bog of Cats…, Figures of Authority in By the Bog of Cats, View Wikipedia Entries for By the Bog of Cats…. Summary. The production was directed by Kay Martinovich, and featured Tracy Michelle Arnold as Hester, along with Mark Montgomery, Mary Ann Thebus, and David Darlow in the principal roles. However, in their conversation, Hester reveals that she was jealous of his relationship with their mother. This act depicts the marriage of Caroline Cassidy and Carthage Kilbride, which is disrupted by various individuals, both real persons and ghosts. Helen Meany. 90’s - Land ownership, livestock, community structure, the role of outsiders, the role of women, marriage, family, religion, folklore and superstition all came under extreme pressure from the dramatic economic success known as the Celtic Tiger era. While she does at times seem sympathetic to Hester, she attempts to carry out the community's wishes and convince Hester to leave her house on the bog so that Carthage and his new bride can move in there. By the Bog of Cats study guide contains a biography of Marina Carr, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. Holly Hunter during a photocall for Marina Carr's play, 'By The Bog of Cats' at Wyndhams Theatre in central London. Marina Carr, By the Bog of Cats. Carr made several script changes for this production, mostly having to do with the Joseph Swane scene in Act III. By The Bog Of Cats ... an 'exotic transplant' in London. The literature of prior eras lacked neither for influences nor allusions, but postmodern writers call on … Using the myth of Medea as a starting point, playwright Marina Carr has created a modern story of oppression, alienation – and magic. Carthage swears that he will take Josie away from Hester by having her declared an unfit mother. "[2] Xavier Cassidy, Caroline’s father, also visits Hester to urge her to leave. By the Bog of Cats at Wyndhams Theatre, London in 2005. By the Bog of Cats is a riveting play, given a riveting production by The Rogue. Spiralling rage … Susan Lynch as Hester Swane in By the Bog of Cats. In the final act, Hester has lit Carthage's farm on fire. It was revived at Wyndham’s Theatre, London, in November 2004. At the beginning of the play, Hester is dragging a dead black swan across the snow and ice at the Bog of Cats. [11], "Blarney Gets the Better of Hunter in a Tortured Irish Stew", "By the Bog of Cats review: a warped family drama", "Interview with Marina Carr, Ireland's leading female dramatist", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=By_the_Bog_of_Cats&oldid=1004022966, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 31 January 2021, at 19:23. Characters 4 CHARACTERS Susan Lynch (Hester Swane) in By the Bog of Cats by Marina Carr, directed by Selina Cartmell. By the Bog of Cats was originally staged in the Dublin’s Abbey Theatre in 1998 as a part of Dublin Theatre Festival. (You might have guessed as such based on the title of the post). By the Bog of Cats is a play by Marina Carr. Loosly based on Euripides' tragedy Medea, this provocative drama set on the bleak ghostly landscape of the Bog of Cats discloses one woman's courageous attempts to pay claim to that which is hers, as her world is torn in two.Hester Swane, an Irish Traveller, attempts to come to terms with a lifetime of abandonment in a furious uncompromising tale of greed and betrayal, memory and self-sacrifice. By the Bog of Cats - Ebook written by Marina Carr. The Ghost Fancier: This ghostly figure appears at the beginning of the play to collect the spirit of Hester. The Ghost Fancier has come to collect her but realizes that he is early as Hester is still alive. Young Dunne: Often referred to as the waiter, who serves the guests at the wedding of Carthage and Caroline. Set in the bogs of rural Ireland, Carr's lyrical and timeless play tells the story of Hester Swane, an Irish traveller with a deep connection to her land. Corpus ID: 192183789. Crawley had several criticisms for the play, including finding Hester a less than interesting character and calling the second act "structurally unwieldy." By the Bog of Cats. It includes themes of land ownership, motherhood, betrayal/abandonment, and ethnic prejudice. By the Bog of Cats is a mind boggling play. It is loosely based on the Greek myth Medea. Abbey Theatre, Dublin *** Hester Swane is having a bad day. Loosly based on Euripides' tragedy Medea, this provocative drama set on the bleak ghostly landscape of the Bog of Cats discloses one woman's courageous attempts to pay claim to that which is hers, as her world is torn in two. The production received a rating of 3 stars from reviewer Kerry Reid. While digging a grave for the swan, Hester talks with the Catwoman about how her mother, Josie Swane, left her in the swan’s lair as an infant and claimed: “that child…will live as long as this black swan, not a day more, not a day less. -. When Jason leaves her for another woman, Medea kills th… By the Bog of Cats quantity. He convinces Carthage to marry Caroline and promises to sign over the farm to him. Read this book using Google Play Books app on your PC, android, iOS devices. "[2] Following Caroline's visit, Carthage also visits Hester in his wedding clothes and also attempts to convince her to leave the house. December 1-4, 2018 Lab Theatre. By The Bog Of Cats @inproceedings{Carr1998ByTB, title={By The Bog Of Cats}, author={M. Carr}, year={1998} } Dawn on the Bog of Cats. Carr, Marina. By the Bog of Cats Summary By the Bog of Cats centers around the character of Hester Swane. She looks down on Hester because Hester belongs to the “tinker” class and tries to hide the fact that her own grandfather was a tinker. Caroline Cassidy goes to visit Hester and tells her that she needs to leave, but Hester does not hear her and threatens Caroline. By the Bog of Cats is a play by Marina Carr. By the Bog of Cats . She has magical powers that include prophecy and talking to ghosts. Even her daughter calls her a “jezebel witch,” and the rest of the community uses it as a derogatory term in reference to her. Meanwhile, Caroline Cassidy visits Hester in her wedding dress and attempts to convince Hester to allow her to marry Carthage without disruption and to leave the house on the bog, which Hester has previously signed over to Carthage. By the bog of cats / Set in the mysterious landscape of the bogs of rural Ireland, Carr's lyrical and timeless play tells the story of Hester Swane, an Irish traveller with a … By the Bog of Cats (Faber Drama) BOOK DETAIL File Size: 176 KB Print Length: 100 pages Publisher: Faber & Faber; Main edition (September 4, 2014) Publication Date: … Explore {{searchView.params.phrase}} by color family {{familyColorButtonText(colorFamily.name)}} Carr’s vision of By the Bog of Cats, a bitter stretch of the Irish midlands, is of a sunken and frozen place, stalked by ghosts, grotesques and vengeful characters steeped in myth. SKU: 9780571227662 Category: Drama Texts, Plays & Screenplays Tag: Marina Carr Author: Marina Carr Publication Date: 2nd Dec 2004 Format: Paperback / softback Pages: 96 Publisher: Faber & Faber. As her house blazes behind her, Hester talks with the ghost of her brother, Joseph Swane, and explains that she did not kill him for money; rather, she envied his relationship with their mother. By the Bog of Cats. February 25, 2019 by Essay Writer. She has written almost thirty plays, including By the Bog of Cats (1998) which was revived at the Abbey Theatre in 2014. Hester crashes Caroline and Carthage's wedding, wearing her own wedding dress. By the Bog of Cats premiered at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin, in 1998. Thu 2 Dec 2004 06.59 EST. She is very greedy and constantly focuses on issues of social class and money. Marina Carr. Josie Kilbride: Josie is Hester's and Carthage's seven-year-old daughter. Mrs Kilbride calls her granddaughter a “little bastard” because she was born out of wedlock. Explore {{searchView.params.phrase}} by color family {{familyColorButtonText(colorFamily.name)}} Select from premium By The Bog Of Cats of the highest quality. By Marina Carr Directed by Conor Gallagher Set in the ghostly landscape of the bogs of Ireland, By the Bog of Cats traces the desperate journey of Hester Swane, as she fights for respect in the face of a lover’s abandonment and a society that derides her lineage. By the Bog of Cats is, undoubtedly, one of the most famous Irish plays and definitely the most known and loved play written by Marina Carr. By the Bog of Cats is a bit of Irish Gothic laced with some Greek tragedy and it’s on stage now at The Artistic Home, one of Chicago’s fine storefront theaters, located in the Noble Square neighborhood.. John Mossman, cofounder of The Artistic Home, directs Bog of Cats with sensitivity to Carr’s poetic language. [6] Alan Bird, writing for London Theatre, differs in calling By the Bog of Cats "an outstanding dark psychological drama" and a "hilarious dark comedy. By the Bog of Cats was first presented by the Abbey Theatre in the Dublin Theatre Festival (1998) and won the Irish Times/ESB award for ‘Best New Play’ of that year. Hester challenges Caroline about Carthage and claims: “Carthage Kilbride is mine and only mine. 4.6 out of 5 stars 43. When she was seven years old, her mother, Josie Swane (not pictured in the play), abandoned her on the Bog. Before the action of the play, Hester, with the help of Carthage, murdered her half-brother Joseph Swane, out of jealousy for his life with their mother. (2021) Text - Playboy of the Western World . He comes back at the end of the play after Hester kills Josie, and Hester kills herself. ", The 2004 West End revival of By the Bog of Cats starred Holly Hunter. Hester angrily accosts Carthage for his role in her brother’s death. By the Bog of Cats, playing at the Wyndhams Theatre on The Charring Cross Road, is a new play by the Irish playwright Marina Carr that seeks to rework one of the most famous of the Athenian tragedies, Medea. €12.49 You save 20%. As a further insult, she is being forced off of her land by Carthage and his new father-in-law, Xavier Cassidy. In stock. A ghost fancier, drawn to a place where a ghost will appear, meets Hester. By The Bog Of Cats Odds are remote that we'll witness an actual "Stevie Nicks is 'Riverdance' Medea' " this lifetime. By the Bog of Cats - Acting Edition (Acting Edition for Theater Productions) Part of: Faber Drama (20 Books) | by Marina Carr | Jan 1, 2002. 'By the Bog of Cats' by Marina Carr This is a modern, Irish play, set in rural Ireland, that deals with loss, despair and destructive revenge. Hester’s neighbour, Monica, interrupts this conversation to tell Hester that her house is on fire. Don’t make me lave this place or somethin’ terrible’ll happen. Even though the community sees the Catwoman as eccentric, they still invite her to all of their functions and consider it bad luck not to do so. Josie sings several songs throughout the course of the play which foreshadow her death on the Bog of Cats. [3], By the Bog of Cats premiered at Dublin's Abbey Theatre on Wednesday, October 7, 1998 and ran for 45 performances until Saturday, November 14, 1998. By the Bog of Cats by Marina Carr Cultural Context Essay In the text I have studied as part of my course, By the Bog of Cats (BTBOC) by Marina Carr the rigidity of long held attitudes and deep-rooted values prove impossible for the characters to alter time and time again. The Catwoman: The Catwoman is a strange mystical figure who most closely echoes the blind prophet Tiresias from Greek myths. By the Bog of Cats is, undoubtedly, one of the most famous Irish plays and definitely the most known and loved play written by Marina Carr. For this reason, the Catwoman can also be interpreted as witch on the basis of her conversations with spirits and her psychic abilities. [2] Though she says she doesn't know any “black art things,” her connection to the spiritual world is real, specifically marked by her ability to speak to ghosts. The play takes place in "the present" and Act 1, Scene 1 opens "on the Bog of Cats," which playwright Marina Carr describes as "a bleak white landscape of ice and snow." [7] The significant difference between these two stories is the setting: while Medea is set in ancient Greece, By the Bog of Cats is transported to the bogs of Ireland. Photo: Tristram Kenton. In the next scene, Hester and Carthage's 7-year-old daughter Josie plays cards and discusses Carthage's upcoming wedding with her grandmother, Mrs Kilbride. Find the perfect By The Bog Of Cats stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. Has found the body of a black swan, known as black Wing, frozen on the basis her! 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