Ena May Papers
SPEC.RARE.CMS.0106
Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections
1.1 Cubic feet
1981-2001, undated
As of 2013, Ena May was active as an actress, writer, and director in Dublin, Ireland. The collection consists primarily of typescripts, some with annotations and revisions, of May's plays and short stories from her book,
A Close Shave With the Devil.
(1) 5" letter document box, (1) 5" legal document box, (1) 2.5" letter document box
English
May, Ena
Arrangment of Materials
The Ena May Papers is comprised of six series.
Series 1:
[
A Close Shave With the Devil](ref1) Series 2:
["Out of the Beehive"](ref3) Series 3:
["She's Your Mother Too, You Know!"](ref4) Series 4:
["That Fine Line"](ref5) Series 5:
["So What Was It Like For You?"](ref6) Series 6:
["Maria's Claim"](ref7)
Acquisitions Information
Original donation by Ena May, 2001; additional materials donated by Ena May, 2002
Preferred Citation
[identification of item], Ena May Papers, SPEC.RARE.CMS.0106, Rare Books and Manuscript Library, Ohio State University
Access to Materials
Materials in this collection are available for use, but may be used in the Thompson Library Special Collections reading room only.
Use of Materials
Materials in this collection may be protected by copyright, and are made available for research and educational purposes. In general, the OSU Libraries do not own the copyright for materials from our collections and cannot grant copyright permissions for these materials. The user is responsible for making a final determination of copyright status. If copyright protection applies, permission must be obtained from the copyright holder to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exceptions to the law. Works in the public domain are not protected by copyright and do not require permission to use.
Processing Information
Ashleigh Minor and Zoe MacLeod, 2015-2016
General Note
Some materials in this collection were previously described under the OSU Libraries' Rare Books and Manscripts collection number SPEC.RARE.CMS.0115
Biographical Note
As of 2013, Ena May was active as an actress, writer, and director in Dublin, Ireland. May trained under Deirdre O'Connell at the Stanislavski Studio at Focus Theatre in Dublin and is a long established actress at the Focus. Ena began acting in 1973, and has played in over fifty productions on stage, radio, TV, and film. Besides the Focus, May has performed at The Gate, Peacock, and Project theatres in Dublin and has toured extensively. Her work as a director at Focus includes productions of her plays,
Out Of The Beehive and
She’s Your Mother Too, You Know! May also directed a highly acclaimed production of
Waiting For Godot in Berlin.
Plays Ena May has written include
Out of the Beehive,
She's Your Mother Too, You Know!,
Maria's Claim, and
Love Lust and the Lack of It, an adaptation of Aristophanes'
Lysistrata. She directed and co-wrote with Ruth Jacobs
That Fine Line.
In 1998, May's book of short stories,
A Close Shave With the Devil, was published by The Lilliput Press. These are stories of Dublin in the late 1940s seen through the eyes of young Eily Doolin. Ena May adapted stories from her book for the theatre and has performed them at Focus as well as other venues in Ireland and Wales.
Scope and Contents
The Ena May Papers consists primarily of typescripts, some with annotations and revisions, of five plays written by May and short stories published in her book,
A Close Shave With the Devil. The short story materials comprise drafts, notes, reviews, and publicity. The collection also includes some promitional materials, such as programs, press releases, posters, and photographs, for May's plays and performances.
May, Ena
Actresses--Ireland--Dublin
Irish drama--20th century
Theater--Ireland--Dublin
Typescripts
Women authors, Irish
Women dramatists, Irish
Women theatrical producers and directors--Ireland--Dublin
A Close Shave With the Devil
Series 1
1988-2001, undated
Scope and Contents
Series 1,
A Close Shave With the Devil, contians typescripts with revisions and drafts of the short stories in Ena May's book,
A Close Shave With the Devil. The series also includes publicity materials for the book, as well as publicity materials for May's performances based off the stories in the book.
The All-Ireland Beauty typescript
1
35
undated
The All-Ireland Beauty typescript first version
1
34
undated
Another Jewish Plot in
Image
1
26
1988 October
Another Jewish Plot typescript
1
23
undated
Another Jewish Plot typescript
1
24
undated
Another Jewish Plot typescript
1
25
undated
Another Jewish Plot in 1948 typescript
1
21
undated
Another Jewish Plot in 1948 typescript with revisions
1
22
undated
Belleek, Philistines and Misfits
2
3
undated
Belleek, Philistines and Misfits draft fragments
1
43
undated
Belleek, Philistines and Misfits incomplete draft
1
40
undated
Belleek, Philistines and Misfits incomplete draft
1
41
undated
Belleek, Philistines and Misfits incomplete draft
1
42
undated
Belleek, Philistines and Misfits typescript
2
1
undated
Belleek, Philistines and Misfits typescript with reader's marks and comments
2
2
undated
Belleek, Philistines and Misfits typescript with revisions
1
38
undated
The Black Widow typescript
1
33
undated
The Boy Who Thorugh He Was a Train typescript
1
27
undated
The Boy Who Thought He Was a Train typescript
1
28
undated
The Boy Who Thought He Was a Train typescript
1
29
undated
The Boy Who Thought He Was a Train typescript
1
30
undated
The Boy Who Thought He Was a Train typescripts with revisions
1
31
undated
The Boy Who Thought He Was a Train typescript with revisions
1
32
undated
A Close Shave With the Devil book reviews and publicity material
2
5
1998-1999
A Close Shave With the Devil poster for Ena May's performance at the Focus Theater
2
8
undated
A Close Shave With the Devil reviews and publicity for Ena May's performance at the Focus Theater
2
7
2001
A Close Shave With the Devil typescript with revisions
2
4
undated
Itchy Ryder and a Frog typescript
1
2
undated
Itchy Ryder and a Frog typescript with revisions
1
4
undated
Itchy Ryder and a Frog typescript with revisions
3
2
undated
Itchy Ryder and the Green Frog
3
1
undated
Itchy Ryder and the Green Frog notes
1
1
undated
Itchy Ryder and the Green Frog typescript with revisions
1
3
undated
Itchy Ryder and the Green Frog typescript with revisions
1
6
undated
Itchy Ryder and the Green Frog typescript
1
5
undated
Making a Man of Georgie typescript and draft of
Belleek, Philistines and Misfits
1
39
undated
The Misfit and
Belleek, Philistines and Misfits typescripts with revisions and a drawing
1
37
undated
Notebook
2
9
undated
Notice of Ena May's performances at the Dublin Writers' Museum and Dundrum Library
2
6
2000
The Real All-Ireland Beauty typescript
1
36
undated
The Red Sandals typescript
1
7
undated
The Red Sandals typescript
1
9
undated
The Red Sandals typescript
1
10
undated
The Red Sandals typescript with revisions
1
8
undated
The Red Sandals typescript with revisions
1
11
undated
A Sunday Visit typescript
1
14
undated
A Sunday Visit typescript
1
16
undated
A Sunday Visit typescript
1
17
undated
A Sunday Visit typescript
1
18
undated
A Sunday Visit typescript
1
19
undated
A Sunday Visit typescript with revisions
1
15
undated
A Sunday Visit typescript with revisions
1
20
undated
Sunday Visiting complete draft except for final pages
1
13
undated
Sunday Visiting typescript with revisions
1
12
undated
Typescript fragments and notes
3
3
undated
"Out of the Beehive"
Series 2
June 1981, undated
Scope and Contents
Series 2, "Out of the Beehive," contains drafts, photogrpahs, and publicity materials for the play, "Out of the Beehive."
Draft
3
4
undated
Scope and Contents
Also bound in the notebooks is the text and production notes for The Boyfriend: a musical play by Sandy Wilson performed by the Dalkey Youth Muscial Society in April 1984.
Draft
3
5
undated
Photographs of Ann O'Driscoll, Bernie Downes, Tony Colman, Jack Lynch, and Frank McDonald
2
13
undated
Publicity materials and reviews
2
12
undated
Transcript with corrections and additions
2
10
1981 June
Typescript
2
11
undated
"She's Your Mother Too, You Know!"
Series 3
1988, undated
Scope and Contents
Series 3, "She's Your Mother Too, You Know!", contains drafts, photographs, and publicity materials for the play "She's Your Mother Too, You Know!".
Photographs of Frank McDonald, Hazel Dunphy, Blanaid Irvine, Deirdre O'Connell, and Jayne Snow
2
14
undated
Posters, reviews, and press releases
3
7
1988
Typescript photocopy
3
6
undated
"That Fine Line"
Series 4
1986 January, undated
Scope and Contents
Series 4, "That Fine Line," contains a typescript, correspondence, and reviews for the play "That Fine Line."
Historical Note
Ena May directed and co-wrote with Ruth Jacobs "That Fine Line." It was performed at the Actor’s Center for Performing Arts, St. Brendan’s Hospital in 1986, and was the subject of an RTE documentary.
Eireann (Telefis) correspondence and reviews
2
15
1986 January
Typescript with revisions and annotaions
3
8
undated
"So What Was It Like For You?"
Series 5
1995
Scope and Contents
Series 5, "So What Was It Like For You?", contains typescript for the play "So What Was It Like for You?".
Historical Note
Ena May wrote "So What Was It Like For You?", which was performed in 1995, for The Balcony Belles, a theater group of women from Dublin's inner city.
Coombe Hospital Project for "The Balcony Belles" typescript
2
16
1995
"Maria's Claim"
Series 6
undated
Scope and Contents
Series 6, "Maria's Claim," contains typescript and program for the play "Maria's Claim."
Historical Note
Ena May wrote "Maria's Claim" for The Balcony Belles, a theater group of women from Dublin's inner city. "Maria's Claim" was performed at the City Arts Center and various community centers throughout Dublin.
Program
3
10
undated
Typescript with revisions
3
9
undated