Big Maggie

by John Brendan Keane

The story of Big Maggie Polpin and her attempts to keep her family together after the death of her husband is an enduring theatre favourite. The dialogue crackles with hilarious, caustic putdowns as the indomitable Maggie deals with her feckless family and unwanted suitors. Everyone wants a part of Big Maggie and her property but she has other ideas.

Genres: Plays, Irish Literature, School, Ireland, Drama

86 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1969

Reviews

[Ali · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Big Maggie is the cooling story of Irish society, family and femininity told through authentic scenes of darkly comedic drama..." This line from the introduction to the notes to the play pretty much summarizes Big Maggie.

It is a brief, yet quintessential reflection of the Irish society of that time. And in some ways (for better or worse) still relevant to this day.
The ways of living, family matters, love and life, inheritance, dominance, women's roles... in the neat space of just over 80 pages Keane managed to raise quite a lot of issues. And, if not to resolve them, at least find their reflection in dark and witty manner.
I enjoyed this play. Although it was a bit too brief for my liking. I would've like some more development and a bit more of the character insight. I suppose, I just wanted it to be a bit more to prolong the enjoyment of the reading.

[Eimear · Rating 5 out of 5]

You're a right old cow Maggie.

[Maria Lela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yes

[David Hollywood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such an abrasively direct character cannot but gain your riveted attentions to what she shall say and do next. Maggie has to be on of the most combative and self assertive female characters to appear in Irish theatre, as she overwhelms everyone within her range, and vision. A comic, confrontational and totally uncompromising portrayal of a woman who shall unhesitatingly ensure she and her family face what's true, and therefore only do what's right, or else pay the penalty, at their own expense and regret. Great script and theatre.

[Fiadh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mediocre feminist play, written by a man, set in the 60s in ireland and just woefully uninteresting. I understand that given the time, to write about feminism and sexuality in such a context was outrageous and that it carried such a heavy social reformation, but still, it's just quite boring.

[Susan Ojoi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting

[elena💗💕💝💖 · Rating 3 out of 5]

que mal lo pasaba en las clases de inglés con el libro este

[S · Rating 2 out of 5]

Halfway through the book I was really starting to get into it and then it abruptly ended. Turns out the rest of the book was notes on the play. Shame because I thought it was building to something more than it did.

[Bookworm with Kids · Rating 3 out of 5]

Big Maggie Poplin wants the best for her children but her controlling nature drives them all away. This was a very controversial play when it was first performed in the 1960s. It is now deservedly a classic.

[Eva · Rating 4 out of 5]

First reading: read this for school purposes but I actually thoroughly enjoyed it. Maggie’s character is so complex - she’s a woman I just loved to hate. It was very concise and to the point and I look forward to rereading this in the near future