A Whistle in the Dark - Tom Murphy
From ZuluNotes - Free Leaving Cert Notes
A Whistle In The Dark was written by Thomas Murphy. It premiered in 1961. The story revolves around family of 6 irish boys, michael, harry, hugo, mush, iggy, des, their father known as dada and michael's wife betty.
Act one begins with harry, hugo, iggy and mush talking in the kitchen in michael's home the play never moves outside of his home for it's entirety. They are talking about des and dada's arrival in the to england to stay with michael, he also enters during the conversation. Michael and dada have a estranged relationship at best, harry, hugo, iggy, mush go to meet dada and des at the station leaving michael a few moments with his wife we find out now that this is the first opportunity that they have had to be alone together in some time due to michael's brothers staying with them, betty perceives this as an invasion of their home by michael's family. Michael allows them the "run" of his home to do as they please with very few limitations. When des and dada arrive in his home for the first time they are introduced to betty and talk about a fight des got into with some people of a different family the mulryans. They begin to talk about des staying in england for work, to which michael completely opposes thinking that harry would have des working for him in his illegal jobs. Dada believes that he is in some way under attack from michael, they all begin to argue until hugo and iggy stand behind dada against michael in a treating manner. Michael backs down and leaves.
Act two is the following night it starts with dada in a sitting room alone with michael coming into the room they begin to talk awkwardly, each one trying to apologize over the previous night then they move onto more serious things like harry, hugo, iggy and des, the things concerning them, but the dispute between them isn't solved as things come back to their opposing views on things. It ends when dada leaves the room, des and betty enter immediately after, they begin talking about unimportant things while michael is still absentminded about what is going on, he loses his temper which results in an argument with betty, who then storms out. Michael, des begin to talk over the past until harry and mush enter. They change the subject to an unimportant matter, the conversation turns to ireland, michael exits iggy hugo enter, and their collective past, they talk about going out with dada, just as he comes in and harry leaves when they collected money for him. Eventually they begin to talk about their "rivals" the mulryans and what they should do about them, mush leaves mid-conversation. They decide to fight the mulryans, but dada leaves with the words "there's a little something I'd arranged about this fight tonight". Michael re-enters, they begin to talk about the fight and ask michael to join them for it, but he tries to convince des not to go instead. Betty enters and the mood changes to treating against michael. The brothers leave the house, betty and michael are alone again, they argue and michael leaves in a rage.
Act three is later the same night betty is standing in the door, dada is returning drunk from the pub, they begin to talk over the fight, then about michael betty defends him from dada's verbal attacks. iggy, des, hugo, mush and harry return. Talk immediately turns to the fight, except for betty who asks for michael. Betty lashes out dada for not being at the fight the men turn out against michael in response,but then wonder were dada was for the fight. They begin to question him about it, dada defends himself, he provides an excuse for his absence with a small silver trophy and a story of coming under attack from three people, they except his excuse and laugh things off. Dada "presents" the trophy to the boys. They begin to laugh, sing and talk things over. Michael returns drunk, they begin to talk to him about their victory, he laughs at his brothers for it, they argue this drives michael further from betty he eventually strikes her and she leaves. They all begin to egg des into fighting michael, des takes it as a joke until they force him to take things seriously. Michael strikes des in the temple, des dies instantly, they all relise the situation and that dada is at fault as the instigator of the fight between the boys. It ends with dada getting quieter and quieter trying to defend himself from his son's accusing looks
