Adapted from the novel of the same name, an imaginative young man and his dysfunctional family anchor this three-act play that’s been a popular staple of British stages and amateur theatres around the world since 1960. As the title might suggest, Billy Liar’s central character is Billy, a liar. He lies almost every time he opens his mouth, from creating a fictional backstory about his father to juggling marriage engagement to two different girls (while in love with a third). But Billy’s lies are more than just the impulsive acts of a teenage miscreant-they reveal a deep desire to escape a lackluster and oppressive working-class world. The colorful cast of characters is rounded out by Billy’s parents, Geoffrey and Alice, his grandmother Florence, friend Arthur, and, of course, the girls: Barbara, Liz, and Rita. The play is considered semi-comedic, with clear elements of kitchen sink drama that reveal its more poignant undertones. After the play’s success, the story was turned into a movie, a TV sitcom, and a musical.
Billy Liar guide sections
