“Is the play about this?”

Quote

Is the play about this?

This note towards Dancing at Lughnasa (1990) is an example of Brian Friel’s habit of asking himself questions as part of his composition process.

“Is this vague notion above somehow close to the core of the play?” – Brian Friel

Related Manuscript

It doesn't matter if the rains come

This note was written by Brian Friel during the composition process for Dancing at Lughnasa (1990). Many of Friel’s notes explore the significance of the play’s various dances and what it is they might be expressing.

“Dance as memory – dance as dream-memory, dance as substitute for language, dance as worship.” – Brian Friel

Related Manuscript

this nagging idea of Dance

Among Friel’s preoccupations whilst writing Dancing at Lughnasa (1990) were what he called ‘this nagging idea of dance’ on the one hand and the extent to which the play’s form should be naturalistic on the other.

“A line on a page isn’t a solemn commitment.” – Brian Friel