Betrayal
Sometimes you'll find there can be three people in a marriage...
Why see Betrayal?
'I've always rather liked Jerry.
To be honest, I've always liked him rather more than I’ve liked you.
Maybe I should have had an affair with him myself.'
Over a period of nine years, we are shown the high price of passion and the damage inflicted by desire. Harold Pinter's remarkable play explores how our loves and our losses echo and accumulate through time.
An Olivier award winning play, premiered at the National Theatre in 1978, Betrayal is now considered a modern classic.
This brand new production, starring Kristin Scott Thomas, Douglas Henshall and Ben Miles, will only run in the West End for a twelve week season, directed by Ian Rickson, whose recent productions include the critically acclaimed The Seagull, The Children's Hour and Jerusalem.
Key Information
Audience
Betrayal is suitable for audiences aged 16 and upwards.
Dates
Finished 20 Aug 2011
Cast
Kristin Scott Thomas
Douglas Henshall
Ben Miles
Douglas Henshall
Ben Miles
Creative
Author: Harold Pinter
Director: Ian Rickson
Director: Ian Rickson
Reviews
Customer reviews
7 reviews, average rating: (3.5 Stars)
Beth K
Vital revivals
You have until the end of August to see two vital theatrical revivals. I can’t help but compare the two: Stoppards’ Rosencrantz and Guildenstern and Pinter’s Betrayal. While Stoppard’s surrealism shows signs of age, Pinter’s piece retains its power. If Stoppard’s actors are on ice-skates on a rollercoaster frame, Pinter’s performers have a solid safety seat in which to speed to their final confrontations with betrayal. Pinter’s words and gaps provide a stable tracking, allowing his actors to shine. Kristin Scott Thomas is as pitch-perfect as finely cut crystal – cool but sympathetic. Ben Miles provides the punch of the archetypal Pinter alpha-male rumbled and Douglas Henshall is as warm as a whisky chaser as everyone’s ‘best man’, caught in mateship and in love.
Stoppard has us hovering around the fringes of existentialism, Pinter hones in on the heart – reasons to revisit the genius of both writers. You could see both plays the same afternoon, unless you have a lovers’ tryst!
... Read more
JOHN COKE
A GREAT PERFORMANCE OF A GREAT PLAY
All three actors give riveting performances.
The scene in Venice where Robert tells Emma she has a letter from Jerry and she says she is Jerrys lover is full of nuance and superb acting.
Throughout the play the ping pong of Pinters writing is brought out.
I thought Douglash Henshal caught Jerrys character perfectly a rather selfish man beneath the seeming veener of care.
Its acting like this that we come to London from Devon for and no disappointments here.
The production and costumes are good. Emma(KST) excells in bringing out the changes in personality over the seven year period of the affair.
See this play you will not regret it. ... Read more
Kalliope Xanthopoulou
The Meaning of Betrayal
Hey! You played my present life out there! 10 years ago I was Emma, now I'm Robert.. What's left to be? Jerry! The first scene is my last in this situation.. I bet everyone laughing during this play, where actually screaming inside.. Kristin plays like life.. "Robert" plays nice, the Italian is an excellent surprise, but Jerry... sorry, play it again, Sam! you can't play Jerry if you haven't survived Betrayal at least once in your real life!
And here some notes upon Betrayal by a book written by Aldo Carotenuto, EROS E PATHOS (Greek words)= LOVE AND PASSION (1987)
A man who hasn't lived through the excperience of Betrayal is recognisable, he shows immaturity..Loving only in safety, it means we remain children! I will always remember a letter from Yung to Sabina; "it is for me to love only for the sake of love, without any other reason, without the necessity to explain my behavior, or to promise ANYTHING!" These are words that one can underline with no second thought... ... Read more
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