By the Bog of Cats
| By the Bog of Cats | |
|---|---|
| Written by | Marina Carr |
| Based on | Medea by Greek myth |
| Characters | Hester Swane Carthage Kilbride Josie Kilbride Mrs. Kilbride Monica Murray The Catwoman Xavier Cassidy Caroline Cassidy The Ghost Fancier The Ghost of Joseph Swane Father Willow Young Dunne |
| Date premiered | October 1998 |
| Place premiered | Abbey Theatre, Dublin |
| Original language | English |
| Subject | Land ownership, Motherhood, Betrayal/Abandonment, Ethnic prejudice |
| Genre | Tragedy, Dark Comedy |
| Setting | The Irish Midlands in an unspecified period of the Modern Era. |
By the Bog of Cats is a play by Marina Carr. By the Bog of Cats premiered at Dublin’s Abbey Theatre in October 1998. A 2004 revival of the play in London's West End starred Hollywood actress Holly Hunter in the role of protagonist Hester Swane. The play takes place in the Irish Midlands in an unspecified time in the modern era. It is loosely based on the Greek myth Medea. In this myth, the sorceress Medea marries the hero Jason and has two children with him. When Jason leaves her for another woman, Medea kills their children, Jason’s new bride, and the bride’s father. By the Bog of Cats contains many mystical and mythical elements, including ghosts, curses, and references to witchcraft. It includes themes of land ownership, motherhood, betrayal/abandonment, and ethnic prejudice.