SYNOPSIS (taken from stageagent's blogsite)
The Ferryman is set in Northern Ireland in 1981, during the height of the Troubles. Quinn, a former terrorist, has swapped his career with the Irish Republican Army (IRA) for a life on the farm in rural Armagh. He now lives with his sickly wife, their children, his sister-in-law and nephew. The IRA murdered Quinn’s brother, Seamus, when he was just twenty years old and his body has only recently been discovered. He was one of the sixteen men and women who were killed and buried in unknown locations during the 1970s, leaving their family unsure as to whether they were alive or dead. Seamus was apparently shot dead following Quinn’s defection from the IRA in 1972, and a threateningly influential IRA member, Muldoon, now comes to pay Quinn a visit. He is keen to ensure that there are no further repercussions to the IRA’s cause, now Seamus’ murder has come to light.
Themes: Family, loyalty, identity, the legacy of violence, divisive politics, sexual tension and betrayal.
Verdict of irishparents: Unfortunately there is copious use of offensive language like "Fuck" all the way through this play so we cannot recommend it for study in the classroom as it would cause much upset and offense to many students and makes it impossible to conduct interactive read-alouds in a classroom setting.
I would not recommend this play for class teaching.The plot intrigues and clever literary devices are let down by frequent profanities which ultimately mar the content. This play is not edifying for students to study in depth. Examples of some of the unsavoury language:
A few pages into Act 1 …
“Fuckin’ John, Paul,George and Ringo …If it’s between Jimmy and Robert and all
those other spotty wee fucks? … he’s going to have to have a fuckin’ good wash first.
You’re a fuckin’ cheat, Cait Carney.”
Act 111:
“Four weeks ago I’m doing my rounds and I see … Malone’s Laundry van blown sky-
fucking-high. Twenty pounds of Semtex … They weren’t laundrymen. It’s a fucking
meat wagon, RUC black ops … Now all three are in bits all over the Bishop’s Road.
In nine bin bags. … Fucking dog food.
Fuck me.
Get to fuck, Dylan.”
This is typical of much of the language used by the younger characters, in particular.
Reviewed by H. C. Co.Donegal