
Overview
Synopsis
The Lover is a quirky, tense, intriguing one-act by Harold Pinter that examines the private intricacies of modern marriage. To all outward appearances, Sarah and Richard are a respectable, conventional suburban couple. Behind closed doors, however, the couple enjoys a surprising and intriguing arrangement: every day, while Richard is at work, Sarah’s lover comes to the house. Richard, meanwhile, frequents a prostitute in the city. Yet, the two speak openly to one another of their extramarital affairs without jealousy, judgement, or anger. As we learn more about Sarah and Richard’s affairs, we see how a modern married couple has found an unconventional way to cope with extramarital temptation. Like any of Pinter’s works, this one-act contains the laughs, tears, and tensions that arise from the social intricacies of modern life.
Show Information
- Book
- Harold Pinter
- Category
- Play
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 1
- First Produced
- 1963
- Genres
- Drama
- Settings
- Contemporary, Unit/Single Set
- Time & Place
- summer, a detached house near windsor, england
- Cast Size
- small
- Licensor
- Samuel French
- Ideal For
- professional theatre, regional theatre, university / college theatre, community theatre, one act festival, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult Characters, Small Cast
Context
Plot
Characters
Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
---|---|---|---|
Lead |
Male |
Spoken |
|
Lead |
Female |
Spoken |
|
Featured |
Male |
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
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Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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