The Play

Abstract

When the whole world is in a terrible state of chassis it is a temptation for a man to slip off and see the Abbey Theatre Players in Sean O’Casey’s Juno and the Paycock, which turned up at the Ambassador last evening.¹ For this bitter cartoon of Dublin in the evil times of 1922 is one of the lustiest pieces of tatterdemalion literature in our language — a low comedy antic and a courageous indictment of muddle. Some glorious actors have shuffled and sung their way through the leading parts of the tenement dwellers of Dublin in this play. Many of the lines still echo inspired voices. Although P.J. Carolan is now playing shiftless ‘Captain’ Boyle with good humor and thorough understanding, his literal acting is no match for the comic genius of Barry Fitzgerald, whose querulous voice and pompous futility used to set the whole theatre rocking when he was strutting on the stage. Mr Carolan will perhaps forgive us for mourning a great piece of acting. A part and an actor are not often so perfectly mated as were ‘Captain’ Boyle and Fitzgerald.

The New York Times (7 Dec. 1937).