The Mai

by Marina Carr

The events of two summers, the conversations and stories of seven women, the history of a family and their broken and cruel love is remembered, recounted, and relived by The Mai's eldest daughter who fuses past and present, history and lore, into a story as intimate, unique, disturbing, affectionate, and recognizable as all family stories.

Genres: Plays, Drama, Irish Literature, Theatre, Fiction

72 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Marina Carr was brought up in County Offaly. A graduate of University College Dublin, she has written extensively for the theatre. She has taught at Villanova, Princeton, and currently teaches in the School of English, Dublin City University. Awards include the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, the Macaulay Fellowship, the E. M. Forster Prize from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, and the Wyndham Campbell Prize. She lives in Dublin with her husband and four children.

Reviews

[Lenka · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very personal one. On unhappy marriages that I experienced as a child and on motherhood and its challenges which I am experiencing right now. I am really curious what the MA students in my seminar take out of this but for me, this was very painful to read.

[Steven · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not an easy play to review. There is something mysterious and spiritual about the Mai that prevented her husband ever truly knowing her and the audience is left with a similar feeling but still intrigued by her.

[Jam Jam · Rating 4 out of 5]

The vibe shifting from silly ladies gossiping and having silly fights to serious angst lore drop was actually insane.
My favorite was probably Millie and the aunts and i really loved it when they start humbling each other 😭😭 insane

[Karla Roro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really liked the play. I love how women in the play always seem to repeat themselves. Thinking in intergenerational habits, loving in the same ways. Makes one think of how things were/are with women and subordination to men.

[Grace Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

AMAZING! This play is honest and heartbreaking. Not for those who can't live without resolution.