Lovers

by Brian Friel

Book by Brian Friel

Genres: Plays, Drama, Ireland, Irish Literature, School

118 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1968

About the author

Brian Friel is a playwright and, more recently, director of his own works from Ireland who now resides in County Donegal.

Friel was born in Omagh County Tyrone, the son of Patrick "Paddy" Friel, a primary school teacher and later a borough councillor in Derry, and Mary McLoone, postmistress of Glenties, County Donegal (Ulf Dantanus provides the most detail regarding Friel's parents and grandparents, see Books below). He received his education at St. Columb's College in Derry and the seminary at St. Patrick's College, Maynooth (1945-48) from which he received his B.A., then he received his teacher's training at St. Mary's Training College in Belfast, 1949-50. He married Anne Morrison in 1954, with whom he has four daughters and one son; they remain married. From 1950 until 1960, he worked as a Maths teacher in the Derry primary and intermediate school system, until taking leave in 1960 to live off his savings and pursue a career as writer. In 1966, the Friels moved from 13 Malborough Street, Derry to Muff, County Donegal, eventually settling outside Greencastle, County Donegal.

He was appointed to the Irish Senate in 1987 and served through 1989. In 1989, BBC Radio launched a "Brian Friel Season", a series devoted a six-play season to his work, the first living playwright to be so distinguished. In 1999 (April-August), Friel's 70th birthday was celebrated in Dublin with the Friel Festival during which ten of his plays were staged or presented as dramatic readings throughout Dublin; in conjunction with the festival were a conference, National Library exhibition, film screenings, outreach programs, pre-show talks, and the launching of a special issue of The Irish University Review devoted to the playwright; in 1999, he also received a lifetime achievement award from the Irish Times.

On 22 January 2006 Friel was presented with a gold Torc by President Mary McAleese in recognition of the fact that the members of Aosdána have elected him a Saoi. Only five members of Aosdána can hold this honour at any one time and Friel joined fellow Saoithe Louis leBrocquy, Benedict Kiely (d. 2007), Seamus Heaney and Anthony Cronin. On acceptance of the gold Torc, Friel quipped, "I knew that being made a Saoi, really getting this award, is extreme unction; it is a final anointment--Aosdana's last rites."

In November 2008, Queen's University of Belfast announced its intention to build a new theatre complex and research center to be named The Brian Friel Theatre and Centre for Theatre Research.

Reviews

[Bobby Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two very different plays, collected together. I confess, I don't understand what makes the characters "winners" in the first piece. Their end is very depressing, and just when I was getting interested in what was going to happen to them. The second piece ("Losers") reminded me a bit of the Martin McDonagh play THE BEAUTY QUEEN OF LEENANE. Makes me wonder if McDonagh read this play before he wrote his. In any case, I didn't understand the characters' reactions to the reveal that the saint at the center of the nightly prayers wasn't real, so the play didn't work for me in the end.

[Nick Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

The second Brian Friel play I have read...or is it two plays? Two short plays connected by theme. Two couples: in the first – Winners – they are young, in the second – Losers – they are middle aged. The young couple are 17, still at school, revising for exams, but Mag is pregnant and they are to be married in three weeks time. That’s it as far as the narrative goes. We just spend some time in their company. As is the way with teenagers they are sometimes playful (or childish), sometimes serious (or adult). Joe has ambitions to carry on studying and go to university and is now trying to study, but Mag can’t settle into revising. They speak of the future, their parents, life in the town/school, etc. They argue, make up. This is nicely detailed and we get to know them over a short period. But Mag and Joe are not the only two characters on the stage, there are also two narrators. They address the audience, give a little background to introduce the Mag and Joe, but then tell of their futures and a catastrophe that will befall them. This gives the enactments between Mag and Joe a new poignancy: they optimistically talk of the future but we know of their alternative future. The other Brian Friel play I have read – Dancing in Lughnasa – had a similar device: an on sage narrator tells us of the characters’ futures: that play was set in the 1930s and the narration gives it a certain historical position, but I’m wondering if this was something Friel often did – there would be the danger that it can easily become a way to create a bit of poignancy, a little bit of easy emotion; overall I found it less successful in Winners. The second play also has a narrator who speaks to the audience – or, at least, a central character who directly addresses the audience. There is more narrative in this work. Held together by Andy’s narration, we see a series of scenes between him and his future wife/wife Hannah: a couple who have previously been single and find a new life together. But Hannah lives with her bed ridden mother, Mrs Wilson, who gives them little peace – before they are married Mrs Wilson will constantly ring for Hannah if things are too quiet; after they are married she will ring if she hears them talking. Mrs Wilson is a devout Catholic and Andy gains a revenge when Mrs Wilson’s most adored saint is abolished by the Vatican – unfortunately Andy gloatingly gives the news when drunk. The major character development in the short play is Hannah who suddenly becomes closer to her mother, estranged from Andy – but, either in terms of characterisation or symbolically, I don’t really understand why Hannah becomes a new version of her mother: it happens too quickly and almost feels as though Friel is just comically announcing daughters will grow to be like their mothers. I’m not sure, but I gain the impression that Lovers is not generally regarded as one of Friel’s major works and overall I am uncertain how successful it is, but it is interesting enough to make me want to read more of Friel’s work.

[Francisca · Rating 2 out of 5]

*2.5*

this was my third brian friel play read this year (and in my life) and, so far, it's been my least favourite one.

sometimes, you want to recommend a book to someone without letting them know what the book is about, to walk in blind so they will be even more surprised. i walked in blind with this play and i don't think it was for the best. i got a bit confused when it moved from the first to the second portion, thinking these were two interconnected stories--but i was wrong.

the only connecting thread between them is the notion of "love" which is quite broad in every approachable sense of the idea. perhaps because of this (or maybe not), the first part felt stronger, more accomplished than the second one. certainly, more compelling in terms of human nature.

it was certainly longer. even though i know length does not equal to depth , the second play did feel lacking at character development. it was more like a last-minute addition to the edition than an actual companion piece. it left me both wanting more and not interested to what had happened at the same time.

this does not mean i'll be giving up on friel's books. two out of three is a fair enough track record to hold.

[Ariel Cipolla · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think there’s beauty in simplicity and you get just that with WINNERS. A glimpse at two people existing in a singular moment in time with permission to be their full selves, including their desires and despairs. However, I think the play wouldn’t work if it was just that surface level presentation of these characters. It’s those additional narrations that incorporate the stakes and establish pacing. They let the audience feel one step ahead and view this moment in a different light.
As for LOSERS, while I did enjoy it, I kind of wish it would have been extended into a full length of its own. I think it’s really interesting but it’s too short or perhaps it rushes through it’s storytelling.
I also wonder why these plays exist. I’m still unsure about what the writer intended them to be. And what he intended them to be TOGETHER. Why did he pair them the way he did?
This book was a gift from a friend who deeply loves this play and I’m just thankful she wanted to share it with me.

[Tom Romig · Rating 4 out of 5]

The lovers in the two parts of this two-part drama may be in different stages of life and romance, but both pairs are thoroughly Irish: "for every five minutes you laugh, you cry for ten." Whether it's the modest hopes of the young couple in the first part being dashed or the family dynamic of the second being manipulated by the relentlessly passive/aggressive mother, there's no doubt you're in Friel's rural Ireland.

[Latoya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’d give Lovers (Winners or Losers) by Brian Friel 4 stars. Friel brilliantly captures the complexities of love and human connection. The characters feel real, the dialogue is sharp, and the emotions hit deep. A few parts could have been fleshed out more, but overall, it’s a heartfelt, thought-provoking read that stays with you.

[Maya Berardi · Rating 4 out of 5]

tbh i only read winners but it was so 🥺☺️😔😫🥰🤯

[Niamh]

read for school

[MeganLCX · Rating 3 out of 5]

loved winners, didn’t enjoy losers xxx

[Jake Van Hoorn · Rating 3 out of 5]

4 for winners, 2 for losers

[Lily Carley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Only read winners

[Joe Schwalb · Rating 3 out of 5]

what a weird pairing of act I and act II. I do understand the comedy but Act I is so much more engrossing and suspenseful. seems kinda lopsided. maybe if performed beautifully it works well

[Simon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another required read for my Scene Study Class. I bought this at my Campus Store for $9

I've been cast as Joe and through the next several weeks I and my partner will go through a scene (The bang bang scene)and explore the breakdown and depth of the play and character development.

As a whole, the play is well versed and entertaining. I find the role of Mag to be extremely annoying, she harps on and on and finally when Joe calls her out on it, albeit in a brutally rude way, I just cant help but through my fist in their air in a triumphant way.

That is my view as a n audience member to the play and only in my first read. I will of course have to adapt to the changes I will view when the progression of the study inevitably changes my take on it. I am looking forward to it and will post more about it as the time goes on.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lesser-known work from one of the greatest playwrights of the 20th-Century, Lovers is a real gem; at times hilarious and at times deeply-sad, it manages to shine a humane light on both young- and middle-aged-love.
Technically, the play is actually two one-act plays, "Winners" and "Losers" (the titles take on a sharp-tongued irony by the end of the piece), that are disconnected plot-wise but resonate with each other thematically in a way that probably makes it unwise to perform them separately.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Both stories were very intriguing, the characters were good, and overall, I thought this play was excellent.

The second time through reading this, I don’t really understand why there are two completely different stories in the same play. I get that they are both about lovers, but they just seemed like short plays stuck together.

[Mysterious Bunny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore these two plays for their heart.

[Kristy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I rate for 'heart'. This double-bill has a gigantic one.