To help discern how these choices were made in each series and why they were different, I would encourage different acting styles from the spirits and their counterparts that they affect so deeply. For Cathleen Ni Houlihan, I would first like realism to play a role in the staging. However, once the spirit approaches the family, its presence puts Michael into a trance-like state. She also speaks prophetically and addresses communication through song, which reminds me of Brechtian theater, particularly Brecht's Mother Courage. While I wouldn't let him break the fourth wall, his acting style should be elevated enough to put Michael in a trance where he forgets about his wedding day. This is particularly important because she is later seen by the young boy, Patrick, as a young girl who "had the walk of a queen" (Yeats and Lady Gregory 11), confirming that she is not just a woman poor, but the spirit of