Synge, J. M. 1871-1909. Playboy of the western world

The Playboy of the Western World is a three-act play written by Irish playwright John Millington Synge, first performed at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin, on 26 January 1907. The work is considered a centerpiece of the Irish Literary Revival movement and influenced numerous other writers of the period, but was initially met with riots and protests in Dublin when it first premiered. It is set in Michael James Flaherty's public house in County Mayo during the early 1900s, and tells the story of Christy Mahon, a young man running away from his farm, claiming he killed his father. The play is known for its use of the poetic, evocative language of Hiberno-English, heavily influenced by the Irish language, as Synge celebrates the lyrical speech of the Irish. It remains a popular work of literature in Ireland, and has been adapted for musicals, plays, and films throughout the 20th century.