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P.G. O'Dea

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Irish playwright (1898–1982)

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P.G. O'Dea
BornPatrick Gerard O'Dea
(1898-11-07)7 November 1898
Limerick, Ireland
Died12 March 1982(1982-03-12) (aged 83)
Dublin, Ireland
Occupation(s)Teacher, playwright

P.G. O'Dea (7 November 1898 – 1982) was an Irish playwright known for his comedic plays and contributions to Irish amateur theatre in the mid-20th century.

Biography

Born in Limerick in 1898, O'Dea spent most of his life in Athlone, where he taught at the local technical school, known locally as "The Tech". From his home at Court Devenish, located near the River Shannon, he wrote a series of plays that were the subject of positive reviews within Ireland's amateur theatre circuit. After retiring from teaching, O'Dea relocated to Dublin, where he lived until his death in 1982.

Works

O'Dea's work as a playwright spanned several decades, during which he wrote numerous plays, including Poor Jimmy, Johnnie's Britches, A Man of Ideas, and Down the Middle. His plays often explored themes of Irish identity, politics, and social life, and were characterized by a blend of humour and critical observation. His works were popular in the Irish amateur theatre circuit in the mid-20th century.

While he initially wrote under the pseudonym 'Morgan Brookes'. O'Dea's true identity was revealed, by a fellow educator, following a performance of Kitty Breaks the Ice in 1946.

Johnnie's Britches won the 3-act Confined Competition at the Western Drama Festival in 1947, receiving praise from adjudicator Lennox Robinson as "one of the most entertaining he had ever seen". In the conservative cultural climate of mid-20th century Ireland, however, Johnnie's Britches faced some backlash over its title. A Protestant minister, for example, criticised the word "britches" as indecent. As a result, the title was temporarily abbreviated to "Johnnie", and some dramatic societies adopted the alternative title "Don Juan's Pantaloons". However, the original title was restored in later printings, and "Johnnie's Britches" continued to be performed under its original name.

Later life and legacy

After retiring from teaching, O'Dea moved to Dublin. His plays continued to be staged over the years, often from well-worn scripts that had survived the passage of time.

P.G. O'Dea's plays have experienced a revival across Ireland in the early 21st century, with performances being staged in several regions and in the USA. For example, A Man of Ideas was revived in 2014 by the New Haven Gaelic Players in Connecticut, USA, decades after its original performances in Ireland. Poor Jimmy has also seen renewed interest, with performances across the country, including in County Kerry and County Cork. Johnnie's Britches, historically a "crowd favourite", was staged by Beezneez Theatre Company as part of a 2012 nationwide tour in Ireland, which included a performance at the Civic Theatre in Tallaght.

O'Dea also wrote a song titled "Dear Love", which was used as part of the Centenary of the Easter Rising commemorations at the RTÉ All Ireland Drama Festival in Athlone.

Selected works

  • Kitty Breaks the Ice (1943)
  • Johnnie's Britches (1945)
  • Bachelor Barney (1947)
  • Poor Jimmy (1947)
  • A Man of Ideas (1948)
  • Down the Middle (1949)
  • Simey's Shadow (1951)
  • Paddy the Englishman (1951)
  • The Diddler (1960)
  • Above Every Other Evil? (1962)

References

  1. ^ "Remembering native city son: playwright PG O'Dea". Limerick Leader. 21 September 2024. p. 14.
  2. ^ "Real Irish Comedy". Westmeath Independent. 12 April 1947. Retrieved 7 September 2024 – via Wikimedia Commons.
  3. "Former Athlone teacher's comedy returns to a local stage 64 years on..." Westmeath Independent. 23 November 2011. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  4. "New portrait of Drama Festival stalwart unveiled". Westmeath Independent. 6 May 2024. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
  5. ^ O'Shea, Jackie (1948), English: 1948 letter to P.G. O'Dea in praise of Johnnie's Britches from the Donoughmore Dramatic Society, retrieved 9 September 2024 – via Wikimedia Commons
  6. "Knocknagoshel". The Kerryman. 2 March 1957. Retrieved 7 September 2024 – via Wikimedia Commons.
  7. "Magherabuoy Players". Ballymena Weekly Telegraph. 27 April 1956. Retrieved 7 September 2024 – via Wikimedia Commons.
  8. "Johnny". Leinster Express. 11 May 1957. Retrieved 7 September 2024 – via Wikimedia Commons.
  9. ^ "Renewed interest in work of late Athlone playwright". Westmeath Independent. 26 September 2020.
  10. "Grand Concert and Variety Entertainment". Wexford Free Press. 29 January 1949. Retrieved 7 September 2024 – via Wikimedia Commons.
  11. "Johnny on Tour". Waterford News and Star. 6 March 1959. Retrieved 7 September 2024 – via Wikimedia Commons.
  12. "Johnnie's Britches". Kilkenny People. 28 May 1949. Retrieved 7 September 2024 – via Wikimedia Commons.
  13. ^ "Kitty Breaks the Ice: new play produced in Athlone". Westmeath Independent. 4 February 1946 – via Wikimedia Commons.
  14. English: Johnnie's Britches by P.G. O'Dea advertised under pseudonym 'Morgan Brookes', 7 September 2024, retrieved 7 September 2024 – via Wikimedia Commons
  15. "Classic comedy returns to stage". Irish Independent. 1 August 2012. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  16. ^ "Johnnie's Britches Event". The New Theatre. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  17. "'Johnnie' Takes the Stage". Carlow Nationalist. 11 May 1957. Retrieved 6 September 2024 – via Wikimedia Commons.
  18. English: original scripts, alternate titles 'Johnnie' and 'Johnnie's Britches' by P.G. O'Dea, and pseudonym 'Morgan Brookes', 8 September 2024, retrieved 8 September 2024 – via Wikimedia Commons
  19. ^ Dennehy, Mary (12 June 2012). "Johnnie's Britches comes to Tallaght". Tallaght Echo. p. 42.
  20. Simms, Jason (7 November 2014). "New Haven Gaelic Players' 'Man of Ideas' opens Wednesday at Irish American Center". New Haven Register. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  21. "Spike Back with Poor Jimmy in Knocknagoshel". The Maine Valley Post. 2 February 2018. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  22. "Poor Jimmy - Castlemagner Players". millstreet.ie. 2 November 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  23. "Beezneez Britches finally makes The Dock". Leitrim Observer. 7 August 2012. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  24. "Civic Theatre, Johnnie's Britches". Dundrum Gazette. 28 June 2012. p. 24. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
  25. "Kilmainham Tales". kilmainhamtales.ie. 2 September 2024. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  26. "Rising inspired music and song at Athlone Little Theatre". Westmeath Independent. 23 April 2016. Retrieved 2 September 2024 – via Wikimedia Commons.
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