Denis Johnston, A Retrospective

Published to mark Johnston's eightieth birthday, when he was the doyen of Ireland's living playwrights, this volume brings together memories from friends and critical essays on his work and achievement by leading scholars – John Boyd, Curtis Canfield, Richard Allen Cave, Mark Culme-Seymour, Cyril Cusack, Hilton Edwards, Maurice Elliott, Harold Ferrar, Robert Hogan, Thomas Kilroy, Roger McHugh, Micheál mac Liammóir, D.E.S.Maxwell, Vivian Mercier, Christopher Murray, B.L.Reid, Joseph Ronsley and Christine St Peter – together with a checklist of Denis Johnston's writings compiled by the editor of this volume.

Included as an appendix are some recent revisions by Denis Johnston to his A Bride for the Unicorn.

CONTENTS<br

Introduction <br

List of Illustrations <br

AN APPRECIATION. Hilton Edwards<br

THE OLD LADY SAYS `NO!' Micheál MacLiammóir<br

THE OLD LADY: IN PRINCIPIO. Christine St Peter<br

WAITING FOR EMMET. D.E.S.Maxwell<br

A NOTE ON THE NATURE OF EXPRESSIONISM AND DENIS JOHNSTON'S PLAYS. Curtis Canfield<br

THE MOON IN THE YELLOW RIVER: DENIS JOHNSTON'S SHAVIANISM. Thomas Kilroy<br

DENIS JOHNSTON'S HORSE LAUGH. Robert Hogan<br

JOHNSTON, TOLLER AND EXPRESSIONISM. Richard Allen Cave<br

THE GOLDEN CUCKOO: `A VERY REMARKABLE BIRD'. Christopher Murray<br

'HE IS ALWAYS JUST ROUND THE NEXT CORNER.' DENIS JOHNSTON'S IN SEARCH OF SWIFT . Maurice Elliott<br

'A HUMANE AND WELL-INTENTIONED PIECE OF GALLANTRY': DENIS JOHNSTON'S THE SCYTHE AND THE SUNSET Joseph Ronsley<br

THE ENDLESS SEARCH. John Boyd<br

THE PLAYS OF DENIS JOHNSTON. Roger McHugh<br

DEAR DENIS! Cyril Cusack<br

DENIS JOHNSTON'S SPIRITUAL QUEST. Harold Ferrar<br

JOHNSTON IN ACADEME. B.L. Reid<br

WITH DENIS JOHNSTON IN THE WESTERN DESERT. Mark Culme-Seymour<br

PERFECTION OF THE LIFE OR OF THE WORK. Vivian Mercier<br

CHECKLIST-LIST OF DENIS JOHNSTON'S WRITINGS. Joseph Ronsley<br

APPENDIX: REVISIONS TO A BRIDE FOR THE UNICORN, ETC. Denis Johnston<br

Notes on Contributors<br

Index