Summary

In his Notes, the author describes the setting in which the action of the play unfolds. The time is “the present, in the small village of Ballybeg in County Donegal, Ireland. The action takes place on the night before, and on the morning of, Gar’s departure for Philadelphia” (xi). The notes suggest that the action takes place in the house where Gar lives with his father and the family’s housekeeper, Madge. The action centers on the kitchen, “the only part of the stage that is lit” (xi). where there are two doors. The first is to the shop owned by Gar’s father and which Gar helps to run. The entrance to outside the building is through this door. A second door goes to what is referred to as the scullery. The second point of focus...