IRISH RESENTMENT.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14919, 18 March 1914, Page 10

IRISH RESENTMENT.

ATTACK ON "GENERAL JOHN

REGAN."

WERE TOWNSPEOPLE CARICA-

TURED?

(FROM OUR OWN* CORRESPONDENT.)

LONDON, February 6

Resentment of a wild and alarming sort was shown the other night by the people of Westport, Co. Mayo, against the Irish comedy "General John Regan." The audience's objection to the pieco took the form of laying siege to the stage, damaging the scenery and attacking the actors. Finally the police had to make a baton charge. "General John Regan" was written by "Georgo A. Birmingham" (Canon Hannay), who was formerly vicar of W T estnort, and it is suggested 'tliat the residents recognised Westport as the "Ballymoy" of that play. The actors give the following account of their experience in a telegram to a London paper: "Serious prearranged riot took place by peoplo in cheaper parts of houso owing to rumour previously circulated that a priest was ridiculed in the play, which is incorrect. Upon priest's entrance upon stage mob rushed stago and free fight ensued. Splendid behaviour of constabulary. Hall cleared. Further rioting in streets; stones and bottle throwing; baton charges till lato* hour. Disorder started bet ore rise of curtain. None of company seriously injured. Play received enthusiasm in other Irish towns* crowded audiences. Westport is whero author (Canon Hannay) was vicar for many years, and party feeling chiefly responsible for disorder, many characters in play and local colour being identified with Westport. Stories of disorder in othei towns incorrect." A possible reason advanced for tlio outburst is that the town of Ballymoy, tho scene of the comedy's fun, was too like that of Westport to suit Westportians, and that the authorvicar had put too many black sheep of his flock on the stage, particularly in the "committee" scene. There is, too, tho scene where tho Rev. Father McCormack, parish priest of Ballymoy, is coaxed into tho village hotel by Doyle, tho proprietor, l'jr a "noice dhrink." "1 am afraid it is of little use your asking mc for a solution of tho matter," said Mr Charles Hawtrey. "As 'you know, we played the piece here without 'trouble' arising—save that we may have received a letter or two questioning the propriety of the priest's brief interview with Bacchus in Timothy Doylo's inn." IRISH SENSE OF HUMOUR. Mr Edward Fitzgerald, Mr Hawtry's business manager, thought it was most jA'obabl'y correct in attributing the riot to tho committee scene and the priest sceno. "I am an Irishman," said Mr Fitzgerald, "and I can easily understand the danger of taking a play like 'General John Regan' into a place like little Westport. Wo Irishmen have much less sense of humour tban we are often credited with. I. am pretty certain that the peoplo of W*estport, seeing in Ballymoy an exact copy of their own town, fancied tbey saw also certain prominent townsmen caricatured, and that they fell foul of the Rev. Fathor McCormack, and Jus visit to the inn not on an errand of mercy!" Mr Payne Seddon, who controls the company, observed: "I have toured Ireland for 21 years, and never experienced anything like this before. It recalls the opposition in Dublin to J. M. Synge's 'Playboy of the Western World.' You simply cannot account for the Irish temperament. You would expect 'General John Regan' to appeal particularly to the national sense of humour, instead of which it provokes a riot! The company, which, by tho way, is composed of Irish players, has played in Kilkenny, Clonmel*, and Galway, and although thero has been hissing from tho gallery, the comedy has brought good houses. My manager put the hissing down alone to medical ""ktudentis, but perch*anfc*e the Gaelic League may have shown hostility. " "The ironical part is that Westport was not included in the tour. It is a small seaside olace, and it was only i out of recognition of tho town having had the author of the play as rector for about twenty years tliat the company visited it. Whether tho local patriotism of the place has been hurt, or whether the national sentiment has been offended, I cannot say. One or two references to Irish priests, which might oossibly have been considered offensive by tho Irish people, were not included during the Irish tour. I can Weither explain nor understand the cause of this aggressive opposition." Canon Hannay says he has never met with any objection to the play from Irish people in New York or ILondon. He cannot even guess what the people at Westport are objecting to.