| Event type: | Meeting |
| Date: | Thursday 3rd September 2026 |
| Time: | 13:30 - 17:00 |
| Group: | Armchair Theatre Play Reading |
| Venue: | Member's home |
After stranger Christy Mahon walks into the public house of a village in County Mayo on the west coast of Ireland, all hell breaks loose. He claims he has killed his abusive father by splitting his skull with a spade while out in the fields of their farm, and is now on the run. He becomes a renegade hero, or antihero, similar to an American Wild West outlaw - admired by men and desired by women. The pub’s barmaid (and daughter of the publican) Pegeen Mike, falls for the handsome, self-aggrandising Christy and throws over her wimpish fiancé cousin Shawn Keogh, while the Widow Quin becomes her rival for the young man’s favour. But when Mahon Senior turns up large as life looking for his son, the village turns against Christy.
When the villagers realise that Christy lied about being a ruthless killer, their admiration turns to disgust and mockery. To prove his bravery to the community - and desperately trying to win back Pegeen's affection - Christy actually attacks his father in front of the villagers. However, instead of being impressed, the villagers are horrified by this real-life violence and decide to turn him over to the police.
Before the authorities can take Christy away, his father, having miraculously survived again, returns with him. The two men reconcile and leave the village together as a united front, but this time, Christy has matured and taken control of his own life. Pegeen is left devastated, lamenting that she has lost the only "playboy" she ever loved.
Venue: Helen’s House