Golden Boy of the Blue Ridge

Golden Boy of the Blue Ridge is a musical based on the Irish classic Playboy of the Western World by John Millington Synge. The music was written by Peter Mills with a book by Peter Mills and Cara Reichel. The story has been transplanted from rural Ireland to 1930s Appalachia and set to a bluegrass-flavored score. It was first presented by Prospect Theater Company at the 59E59 Theaters in New York City April 11 - May 3, 2009. Synopsis Act I All of the action takes place in a small mountain cabin (and speakeasy of sorts) belonging to J.M. McFarland, a moonshiner. Among the other residents living Way Out Back And Beyond in this remote mountain community are J.M.'s daughter Maggie, the local miller Hazel Grubbs, and a somewhat well-off farmer, Luther Coffey, who is engaged to marry Maggie. Late one night, Luther stops by to pay a call on Maggie, reporting that on his way he heard a strange fellow groaning in a ditch nearby. When J.M. returns with some of his fellow moonshiners, Maggie complains about being left all alone at night (with strange fellows groaning in ditches nearby) ever since they lost their hired man. J.M. counters that Luther ought to be looking after Maggie now, but the cowardly Luther seems utterly unwilling. This argument is interrupted by the arrival of a stranger, Clayton Monroe. The tired, dirty, and scared-looking young man says that he's a fugitive from the law, though he can't remember the word for what he's done. Fascinated, the locals interrogate Clay and try to guess his crime. (The Right Man For The Job) Eventually, Clay confesses that he killed his father... with a shovel, no less! ("Patricide"... that's the word!) All of the locals are very impressed by this story, and J.M. offers Clay a job as the new hired man, looking after his cabin and his daughter. Maggie's fiancé Luther is uneasy with this arrangement, but Maggie chases him off.