The Luck of the Irish

A SAMUEL FRENCH, INC. TITLE

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Cast Size

5w, 4m, 1boy(s)
Duration

90 minutes
Subgenre

Period
Target Audience

Adult

Details

Summary

When an upwardly mobile African-American couple wants to buy a home in an all-white neighborhood in 1950’s Boston, they pay a struggling Irish family to “ghost-buy” a house on their behalf. Fifty years later, the Irish family wants “their” house back. Moving across two eras, The Luck of the Irish explores racial and social issues and the universal longing for home.

History

Luck of the Irish premiered at LCT3/Lincoln Center Theater's Claire Tow Theater in January, 2013 under the direction of Rebecca Taichman.

Cast Attributes

Keywords

Performing Groups

NESSA CHARLES - very early 30s, black, Hannah’s younger sister; the Taylors’ granddaughter.
HANNAH DAVIS - mid thirties, black, the Taylor’s granddaughter.
MR. DONOVAN - early eighties, first generation Irish American.
JOE DONOVAN - very early thirties, Mr. Donovan’s younger self.
PATTY ANN DONOVAN - very early thirties, second generation Irish American, Joe’s wife.
LUCY TAYLOR - mid thirties, Boston Brahmin black.
REX TAYLOR - mid thirties, but older than Lucy, Lucy’s husband, tranplant from Northern Virginia, black.
RICH DAVIS - same age as Hannah, Hannah’s husband, transplant from DC.
MRS. DONOVAN - early eighties, an elderly Patty Ann.
MILES - nine, Hannah and Rich’s son.
OFF STAGE VOICES - Two young girls

Time Period Contemporary, Present Day, 1950s
Features Contemporary Costumes/Street Clothes, Period Costumes
Additional Features No Intermission
Duration 90 minutes
Cautions
- Mild Adult Themes

Media

"Perfect! A smart and lovingly observed heartbreaker." - Newsday, Read More

"Moving and thought-provoking!" - NY Post, Read More

"Four stars. Spellbinding." - Bloomberg News, Read More

"Greenidge moves imaginatively between past and present." - Backstage, Read More

Videos

LUCK OF THE IRISH: Montage
LUCK OF THE IRISH: Excerpt 1
LUCK OF THE IRISH: Excerpt 2
LUCK OF THE IRISH: Excerpt 3
LUCK OF THE IRISH: An interview with Rebecca Taichman and Kirsten Greenidge
LUCK OF THE IRISH: An interview with Eisa Davis and Victor Williams
LUCK OF THE IRISH: An interview with Amanda Quaid and Dashiell Eaves

Show more +

Music

Musical Style N/A (Not a musical)
Vocal DemandsN/A (Not a musical)
Chorus Size N/A (Not a musical)

Licensing & Materials

Scripts

Available Formats:

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Authors

Kirsten Greenidge

Kirsten Greenidge has had commissions from Magic Theatre, McCarter Theatre and Guthrie Theatre. Her play Sans-Culottes in the Promised Land was produced at the 2004 Humana Festival at the Actors Theatre of Louisville. The play has also been at Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Mad ...

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The Luck of the Irish