The Hostage

The Hostage Summary | Act 1, Part 1 Summary

This raucous comedy-drama tells the parallel stories of two soldiers, one Irish and one British, both captured and held hostage as part of the ongoing hostilities between the Irish Republican Army and the British government. Sudden violence and equally sudden outbursts of music and edgy humor combine with the story to explore themes relating to the nature of imprisonment, preconception, and honor.

The actors dance an Irish jig, in which Mulleady dances with Miss Gilchrist while two drag queens, Princess Grace and Rio Rita, dance together. Two prostitutes speak angrily to them, they reply angrily, and a blast of bagpipes serves as a transition into the first scene.

Argumentative conversation between Pat and Meg reveals that the bagpipes are being played by Monsewer, practicing to play a lament for a young member of the IRA (Irish Republican Army) who is to be executed the following morning. Also during the conversation, Pat comments that the fight of the IRA for independence is over, but Meg says the IRA's cause is never over. Conversation then reveals that Monsewer owns the house in which the play is set, that it's a boarding house where a number of prostitutes and other "degenerates" live, and that Pat and Meg are the caretakers. Their increasingly nasty bickering leads them to sit with their backs to each other as Pat comments that he, a soldier who lost his leg to the cause, shouldn't be talked to the way Meg talks to him. He sings a song about how strong the IRA once was, and then, when Meg asks why he's so angry with the fighters now, he says he's afraid the threat of H bombs (nuclear bombs) is making him nervous because the IRA's weapons are out of date.

Monsewer comes in, blowing the last few notes of his song on the pipes. Pat salutes him, sees he's got something important to talk about, and tells Meg to sweep the steps. When she's gone, Monsewer tells Pat that two soldiers will be coming soon with a captured English soldier, who he says will be the first of many prisoners. Pat comments ironically on how great it is that the IRA is fighting again. Monsewer takes him seriously, agrees, and goes out.

Meg comes back in. She and Pat argue about whether Monsewer's kidnapping plan is a good one, and whether Meg has any right to argue because she's too young to remember the IRA's first battles in the early 1900's.