Harold Pinter’s highly regarded play, winner of the 1979 Olivier Award, was a big success and received critical praise.
The play saw a spectacular revival in 2019, both on Broadway and in the West End, and it won several international theater prizes in 2020 and 2021.
The Pinter estate has only ever licensed the rights once before, solely for Cape Town, for a short run in October.
Reverse chronology was a particularly avant-garde technique used by Pinter at the time. With Emma played by Marlisa Doubell (Blueberry Toast, Thirst, The Vagina Monologues, Hello & Goodbye), Robert played by Matt Newman (Gruesome Playground, Sweet Phoebe, Cock, The Treatment), and Robert’s “close friend” Jerry played by Pierre Malherbe, the play incorporates various permutations of betrayal relating to a seven-year affair involving a married couple (Apple Face, Shakespeare in Love, The Kingmakers & The Eulogists).
Jerry and Emma had an illicit relationship for five years without Robert’s awareness until Emma finally comes clean about her romance with Robert without informing Jerry. The play incorporates Pinter’s recognizable sparse speech, the characters’ concealed goals, face-saving, dishonesty, and (self-)deceptions, as well as their intense competitive one-upmanship.
Award-winning director Professor Chris Weare, who was presented with a Fleur du Cap Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012 for his contributions to the South African performing arts sector, is in charge of directing this timeless masterpiece. Chris previously directed Mamet’s Sexual Perversity in Chicago in 2013 and Fugard’s Hello & Goodbye in 2014 for 2Sugars Productions.
Chris Weare is the director.
Cast: Marlisa Doubell, Matt Newman, and Pierre Malherbe
Location: Cape Town’s Artscape Arena
R200 for tickets at Computicket (Early Bird Special R150) Priority: R100
Dates: October 21–29, 2022
6 p.m. and 2 p.m.
Matinees: Saturday, October 22 and 29, 2 p.m.
90 minute runtime
There is wheelchair accessibility. PG12.
Please be aware that latecomers won’t be admitted.