THE STORY: The scene is a fashionably remodeled farmhouse in the countryside somewhere beyond London, where a prosperous and urbane couple are entertaining the wife’s former roommate and friend whom they have not seen for twenty years. At first the husband and wife banter, then the friend joins them and a flood of intertwining memories ensues. The action shifts back and forth in time, as recollection of what did—or, perhaps, did not—happen are pondered and, as the tension builds, we are aware that the husband and the friend have become locked in a duel for the wife’s very soul. Reveries and ambiguities abound, hinting at much more than is said, and forming together into a surprising entity which challenges the heart and mind and will linger on enticingly in the memory.
Critically hailed as the author’s most important play, this intense and fascinating drama delves into the past and present lives of three people, illuminating the unspoken doubts and tensions which rise between them like spectres.
“…the finest play of a master dramatist…a mature and astonishingly satisfying play.” —The New York Times.
“…a touching, beautifully written, often funny and steadily engrossing piece…It is a work of art and a lovely one.” —New York Daily News.
“…a superbly controlled and crafted piece.” —Variety.
