14 MARCH 1925, Page 27

TWO PLAYS. By Sean O'Casey. (Macmillan. 78. 6d. net.) IF

The Playboy! of the Western World caused riots in Ireland, we might have expected Mr. Sean O'Casey's plays to sink the whole country under the sea ; for there was never more bitter- ness expressed against the fecklessness, the boasting and the shallow egotism of the Irish. But it would seem that the Irish at least have grown tolerant to criticism. It is true that both the plays are astonishingly witty ; and even in reading them we see how keen an eye Mr. O'Casey has for dramatic situations, how well he knows the limitations rend, triumphs of the - stage. It is true,- too, that everyw.here

and inure than anywhere in Ireland a fellow-countryman may be forgiven .for what' would be an unpardonable offente in an outsider. Still, it is surprising that the two plays " have been produced with great success at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin " ; and Dublin has earned our congratulations.

O'Casey is a dramatist of great ability.