Overview
Synopsis
Claire Zachanassian, the world famous billionaire, is returning to her small hometown of Güllen after 45 years away. The town was once a thriving, prosperous area, but has since fallen on hard times. The impoverished Güllenites look to Claire as their only hope to save them from ruin. Her offer, though, comes with a price: justice. Claire will donate one billion dollars to the town if--and only if--they kill Alfred Ill, Claire’s former lover who abandoned and betrayed her all those years ago. Friedrich Dürrenmatt’s The Visit is a piercing, darkly comic story of a scorned woman’s ultimate revenge, exploring what dark deeds a desperate man can be pushed to.
Show Information
- Book
- Friedrich Dürrenmatt
- Category
- Play
- Age Guidance
- Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
- Number of Acts
- 3
- First Produced
- 1956
- Genres
- Drama, Dark Comedy
- Settings
- Contemporary, Multiple Settings
- Time & Place
- The small, impoverished town of Güllen, The present
- Cast Size
- large
- Licensor
- Samuel French
- Ideal For
- College/University, Community Theatre, Large Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Star Vehicle Female, Star Vehicle Male, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Mature Adult, Adult, Young Adult, Child, Early Teen, Late Teen, Elderly Characters
Context
The Visit was adapted to a musical by Kander and Ebb in 2001.
Plot
Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Either Gender |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Either Gender |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Either Gender |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Either Gender |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Either Gender |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Either Gender |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Either Gender |
Spoken |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Spoken |
Songs
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
Sorry! We do not currently have terms for this guide.
Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
Sorry! We do not currently have learning modules for this guide.
Quote Analysis
Sorry! We do not currently have learning modules for this guide.
Guide Written By:
