Overview
Synopsis
Set in apartheid South Africa in 1950, Master Harold…and the Boys is a coming of age drama that explores the relationship between a young white man, Hally, and his two middle-aged servants. These servants, Sam and Willie, are actually the closest thing to family that Hally has. Hally’s father is an alcoholic, disabled man who has been an embarrassment to Hally and his mother for years. When Hally learns that his father will finally be returning home from the hospital, he is devastated and upset. When Sam and Willie try to comfort him, Hally unleashes his anger on them instead of his father. Hally now becomes Master Harold, a racist young man who looks down on his two friends whom he views as inferior to himself. Both men are hurt, yet Sam tries to reconcile himself to the boy he has helped raise. But can the divides of deep-seated racism ever really be healed?
Show Information
- Book
- Athol Fugard
- Text And Format
- Athol Fugard
- Category
- Play
- Age Guidance
- Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
- Number of Acts
- 1
- First Produced
- 1982
- Genres
- Drama
- Settings
- Unit/Single Set, Period
- Time & Place
- 1950, st. george’s park tea room, port elizabeth, south africa
- Cast Size
- small
- Licensor
- Samuel French
- Ideal For
- All-Male Cast, College/University, Community Theatre, Diverse Cast, Ensemble Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Small Cast, Star Vehicle Male, Includes Late Teen, Adult, Mature Adult Characters
Context
”MASTER HAROLD” … and the boys” is Athol Fugard’s most biographical play: Fugard’s first name is Harold, his mother owned a tea room, and the relationship between Sam and Hally is based on the relationship he had with a Black man who worked for their family. Fugard sets the play in 1950, at the beginning of apartheid in South Africa, on the heels of the passage of the Population Registration Act and the Group Areas Act, which classified and separated South Africans by race This historical
to read the context for "MASTER HAROLD"...and the Boys and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
On a rainy afternoon, Sam and Willie are working at the St. George’s Park Tea Room. There are no customers, so Sam is flipping through comic books while Willie begins to practice ballroom dancing, singing “Scandalize My Name.” Willie asks Sam to help him with the quick step, and admits that he is struggling to practice properly as his partner Hilda hasn’t worked with him for several days; after she last made a mistake, he “hided” (or beat) her. Sam teases Willie, reminding him that he should
to read the plot for "MASTER HAROLD"...and the Boys and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
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Lead |
Male |
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Lead |
Male |
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Supporting |
Male |
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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
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Videos
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Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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