The Heart's a Wonder
Opening Date: 18 September 1958
Closing Date: 25 October 1958
Air date: September 30, 1958
Medium: TV
Where to watch: not available
Closing Date: 25 October 1958
Air date: September 30, 1958
Medium: TV
Where to watch: not available
Stage Production Notes
The Heart’s a Wonder was a musical adaptation of J.M. Synge’s play The Playboy of the Western World. Other musical versions of the play include Christy, which played a short run off-Broadway in 1975, and Back Country, which played a brief season in Boston in 1978.
Written by Mairin O’Farrell, Nuala O’Farrell, two sisters in their mid-twenties, The Heart’s a Wonder began as a workshop production at the University College in Dublin. The writers wove together Synge’s original text with traditional Irish ballads.
The musical proved a success and quickly received a full-scale production, opening in August 1958 at the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin. It received rave reviews.
Just a month later, The Heart’s a Wonder opened on the West End at the Westminster Theatre.
The Irish Theatre Company staged The Heart’s a Wonder in September 1978 at the Everyman Playhouse. The production received positive reviews.
The Heart’s a Wonder was adapted into a TV movie in December 1978. The TV movie featured some of the actors from the Everyman Playhouse production, including Bill McMahon and Terry Donnelly. It aired on Irish television on RTE 1.
The Heart’s a Wonder was a musical adaptation of J.M. Synge’s play The Playboy of the Western World. Other musical versions of the play include Christy, which played a short run off-Broadway in 1975, and Back Country, which played a brief season in Boston in 1978.
Written by Mairin O’Farrell, Nuala O’Farrell, two sisters in their mid-twenties, The Heart’s a Wonder began as a workshop production at the University College in Dublin. The writers wove together Synge’s original text with traditional Irish ballads.
The musical proved a success and quickly received a full-scale production, opening in August 1958 at the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin. It received rave reviews.
Just a month later, The Heart’s a Wonder opened on the West End at the Westminster Theatre.
The Irish Theatre Company staged The Heart’s a Wonder in September 1978 at the Everyman Playhouse. The production received positive reviews.
The Heart’s a Wonder was adapted into a TV movie in December 1978. The TV movie featured some of the actors from the Everyman Playhouse production, including Bill McMahon and Terry Donnelly. It aired on Irish television on RTE 1.
Filmed Production Notes
On September 30, 1958, the BBC televised excerpts from The Heart’s a Wonder live from Westminster Theatre in London.
The musical was aired on Theatre Night, a BBC program that presented 45-minute excerpts of stage shows in London.
The Manchester Guardian’s television critic noted the musical excerpts were “an example of television not giving as good an impression as the stage production.”
As The Heart’s a Wonder was aired live, it is believed no archival copy exists and so it is no longer available to view.
On September 30, 1958, the BBC televised excerpts from The Heart’s a Wonder live from Westminster Theatre in London.
The musical was aired on Theatre Night, a BBC program that presented 45-minute excerpts of stage shows in London.
The Manchester Guardian’s television critic noted the musical excerpts were “an example of television not giving as good an impression as the stage production.”
As The Heart’s a Wonder was aired live, it is believed no archival copy exists and so it is no longer available to view.
The Heart's a Wonder PRODUCTION CREDITS
Theatre: Westminster Theatre, London
Book: J.M. Synge, Mairin O’Farrell, Nuala O’Farrell
Additional Lyrics: Marie Duane, Frank D’Arcy
Director: Denis Carey
Musical Director and Conductor: Sidney Bryans
Musical Arrangements: Gerard Victory
Choreography: Josie McAvin, Patricia Ryan
Scenic and Costume Design: Micheál Mac Liammór
Lighting Design: Hilton Edwards
Stage Manager: Charlie Roberts
Cast:
Charlie Byrne (Old Mahon), Una Collins (Margaret Flaherty, called Pegeen Mike), Jack Cunningham (Michael James Flaherty), Peter Dix (Jimmy Farrell), Dermot Kelly (Philly Cullen), Joe Lynch (Christopher Mahon), Ann O’Dwyer (Widow Quin), Milo O’Shea (Shawn Keogh), Cora Carolan, Lelia Doolan, Michael Lowey, Brenda MacGuine, Pat McGuigan, Charlie Roberts, Maureen Toal, Rhoan Woodcock
Theatre: Westminster Theatre, London
Book: J.M. Synge, Mairin O’Farrell, Nuala O’Farrell
Additional Lyrics: Marie Duane, Frank D’Arcy
Director: Denis Carey
Musical Director and Conductor: Sidney Bryans
Musical Arrangements: Gerard Victory
Choreography: Josie McAvin, Patricia Ryan
Scenic and Costume Design: Micheál Mac Liammór
Lighting Design: Hilton Edwards
Stage Manager: Charlie Roberts
Cast:
Charlie Byrne (Old Mahon), Una Collins (Margaret Flaherty, called Pegeen Mike), Jack Cunningham (Michael James Flaherty), Peter Dix (Jimmy Farrell), Dermot Kelly (Philly Cullen), Joe Lynch (Christopher Mahon), Ann O’Dwyer (Widow Quin), Milo O’Shea (Shawn Keogh), Cora Carolan, Lelia Doolan, Michael Lowey, Brenda MacGuine, Pat McGuigan, Charlie Roberts, Maureen Toal, Rhoan Woodcock
Sources
Books
Articles
- Dan Dietz, The Complete Book of 1970s Broadway Musicals, Rowman & Littlefield (2015)
- Ed. Adrian Fraser, Playboys of the Western World: Production Histories, Carysfort Press (2004)
- J.P. Wearing, The London Stage 1950-1959: A Calendar of Productions, Performers, and Personnel
Articles
- Phil Crozier, “Obituaries: Mary McManus,” The Guardian (Feb 1, 2008)
- Uncredited, “Synge Sings,” TIME, Vol 72 Issue 14, (Oct 6, 1958), p.54
- Uncredited, “Welsh and Irish Plays on B.B.C.,” The Manchester Guardian (Oct 1, 1958), p.7
- Cork Past and Present, “The Heart’s a Wonder,” Accessed via: http://www.corkpastandpresent.ie/cultureincork/theatreincork/1978/theheartsawonder/
- IMDb, “Theatre Night (1957-1961): The Heart’s a Wonder,” Accessed via: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5509248/?ref_=tt_trv_cnn
- Irish Film and TV Research Online, “The Heart’s a Wonder,” Accessed via: http://www.tcd.ie/irishfilm/showfilm.php?fid=60720
- Screen Plays, "The Heart’s a Wonder [scenes]” Accessed via: http://bufvc.ac.uk/screenplays/index.php/prog/688
Written by Luisa Lyons (December, 2017; updated July 2018)