Nicholas Wright’s The Reporter begins with a suicide note: “I can’t bear it anymore, though I don’t know what it is.” Protagonist Jim Mossman is a successful reporter with the BBC in the prime of his career. He is well-liked, good at what he does, but struggles with his success being somewhat contingent on his remaining closeted about his homosexuality. The play details the events leading up to Jim’s suicide: the coverage of Vietnam; seven unrelated deaths; a relationship with Louis - an erratic and mentally unstable potter who eventually overdoses; and many friendships that are gained and deepened over time. In the end, Jim’s choice to kill himself leaves more questions than answers, but perhaps... that is the point.
The Reporter guide sections
