Winners (wikipedia)
The first section of Lovers, titled "Winners" follows the story of two teenage lovers, Joseph Michael Brennan and Margaret Mary Enright - more commonly known as Joe and Mag respectively - who are due to be married in three weeks. However, Mag is also pregnant, and at the time Lovers was written, pregnancy outside of marriage, was a major issue. Due to Mag falling pregnant with Joe's baby they are both asked to leave their schools out of disgrace for what they have done. In the play we find out that Joe's mother pleaded with the school to let Joe sit his exams, this is a very important theme as Joe - being the man - is expected to find work and provide for his family.
The play is set atop the hill with the simple scene of Mag and Joe revising for their exams. However, throughout the play they become distracted and talk about different subjects (much to Joe's annoyance) and through their conversation we hear the backstory of the characters.
The play ends with Mag and Joe finding a boat on the shore by a lake and deciding to take it out onto the lake. It is hinted by the narrators ("Man" and "Woman") during the play that Mag and Joe die at the end. This is proved true when it turns out that both lovers drowned. Whether this is an accident, murder or suicide is not stated in the play.
Losers
Losers is a play about middle- aged lovers, Hanna and Andy, who are trying to forge a relationship while having Hanna's mother, Mrs Wilson, and Cissy, the next door neighbour, watching them constantly. Mrs Wilson and Cissy are very Catholic and do not think it is appropriate for Hanna's and Andy's relationship to continue. Mrs Wilson tries to break up their relationship by constantly ringing her bell, and wanting prayers. Towards the end of the play Andy comes home drunk and taunts Mrs Wilson and Cissy that their "Heads a marly" - a reference to the Saint Philomena whom Mrs Wilson is devoted to. Following this, Hanna proclaims "you'll regret this day Andy Tracey, you'll regret this day as long as you live". In the end Andy and Hanna are still together; however, they are stuck in a loveless marriage - divorce was frowned upon at the time - making them the Losers at the end.
Verdict: Not the most suitable plays for study at Junior level as they contain both profanity and crude language and there are many undisguised negative jibes at the Catholic Church and clergy which some students might find offensive, for example, Mags' rude imagining of all the nuns of Ireland being left to the mercy of the Navy sailors etc..