Harry O'Donovan Legacy:
editHarry O'Donovan is well known for his comedic sketches and plays but he is especially recognized for his creation of the iconic character "Mrs. Biddy Mulligan" that was played by his longtime partner, and co-founder of OD Productions, Jimmy O'Dea in many theatre performances and recorded sketches.[1][2] It is described as O'Dea's most famous role as they recorded and released many famous gramophone records of Biddy Mulligan.[3][2] These recordings included comedic sketches such as Biddy Mulligan on the Tram, Biddy Mulligan in Court, Mrs. Mulligan Nearly Wins the Sweep, Biddy Mulligan Casts Her Vote and Biddy Mulligan at the Racecourse.[4] This iconic character is also referenced in songs that were written by Harry O'Donovan like "Daffodil Mulligan" and "The Charladies' Ball" but most noticeably in the song "Biddy Mulligan the pride of the Coombe" that was written by songwriter Seamus Kavanagh who collaborated with Harry O'Donovan to write it.[4][5]
He is the mastermind behind the unforgettable comedic scripts and characters that were portrayed by Jimmy O'Dea. They both compliment each other and neither is successful without the other making it a very successful partnership that lasted for 30 years.[6][2] O'Donovan's writing needed the comedic improvisations of O'Dea to bring his scripts to life and because of this duo they produced some of the funniest. liveliest and most popular shows on the Dublin stage in the 1930s and 1940s.[1][7]
He played a key role in the Irish dramatic movement as he introduced Irish music hall traditions into Irish theatres, similar to the English music hall comedians who visited Ireland in the 1930s, and this new style replaced the traditional serious Irish dramas present in theatres during that time. He is one of the names that made modern Irish drama what it is today.[6] He outlined more of an Irish Identity within his scriptwriting, including Irish life, speech and place names making his scripts more relatable to the Irish people as there was a local association with them through his Irish references and humor which made his plays more successful within the nation.[7]
- ^ a b "Dictionary of Irish Biography - Cambridge University Press". dib.cambridge.org. Retrieved 2020-11-24.
- ^ a b c "Death of Harry O'Donovan". The Irish Times. 5 November 1973. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Harry O'Donovan". www.irishplayography.com. Retrieved 2020-11-24.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b "Jimmy O'Dea died 50 years ago – Ireland's Own". Retrieved 2020-11-24.
- ^ "We all joined the business: The actress Jane Brennan, 50, remembers growing up in a family of thespians, in a big house in run-down Rathgar [Eire Region]". Sunday Times, London UK. 6 March 2011. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b "The Olympia Theatre: Mr. O'Dea and Mr. O'Donovan Many Happy Returns". The Irish Times. 28 April 1936. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b "O'Dea and O'Donovan". The Irish Times. 28 April 1936. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
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