Overview
Synopsis
In the opulent drawing room of the Presidential Palace, Kathryn, a British photojournalist, awaits the return of the dictator. Outside, the city is seized by revolution and rebels have taken over. Kathryn is here to take the dictator’s portrait but he is late...very late. She is forced to wait with Micheleine, the dictator’s wife, her best friend Genevieve, and her kleptomaniac interpreter. It soon becomes clear that Micheleine’s husband has fled the city, leaving his wife to the bloodthirsty rebels who are bombarding her with increasingly threatening phone calls. Although Micheleine tries to keep up appearances, her fear and trepidation are evident and she begins to crumble. It also becomes clear that her friendship with Genevieve masks a troubled history and bloody secret. The language barrier between Kathryn and the other women makes communication awkward and strained, and all four women are forced to analyze each other closely while they wait. As they drink and attempt to talk, the same scene is played out several times from different perspectives, and the women’s inner thoughts are slowly revealed. With danger on the doorstep, Micheleine is forced to accept her vulnerable position and offers Kathryn the coup of a lifetime: the before and after photograph of the body of a rebel-ravaged dictator’s wife.
Show Information
- Book
- Abi Morgan
- Category
- Play
- Age Guidance
- Mature Audiences (M)
- Number of Acts
- 1
- First Produced
- 2000
- Genres
- Drama
- Settings
- Contemporary, Unit/Single Set
- Time & Place
- A house in an affluent neighbourhood on the edge of a large city, Present Day
- Cast Size
- small
- Licensor
- Samuel French
- Ideal For
- All-Female Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Small Cast, Includes Adult, Young Adult Characters
Context
The play runs for approximately 90 minutes without an interval.
Plot
Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Non-singer |
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
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Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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Guide Written By:
Alexandra Appleton
Writer, editor and theatre researcher