A SAMUEL FRENCH, LTD. TITLE
The Room
Full-Length Play, Dark Comedy / 2w, 4m
Harold Pinter’s first play, written in 1957, is the earliest example of Pinter's “comedy of menace” – a surreal and dark portrait of an elderly couple that is both humourous and disturbing.
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Cast Size
2w, 4m -
Duration
60 minutes (1 hour) -
Target Audience
Adult
Details
Summary
Rose and Bert rent a room that might almost be a paleolithic cave; the outside is terrifying and unknown. Rose never goes out, and Bert only goes to drive his van with furious aggression. A young couple call, and then a blind black man. Bert comes home, massive with triumph at smashing every car that challenged his van. Finding the stranger, he kicks him to death and Rose goes blind.
History
The Room was first produced by the Hampstead Theatre Club on 21 January 1960, and subsequently at the Royal Court Theatre on 8 March 1960. Directed by Anthony Page, the production featured Michael Brennan, Vivien Merchant, John Cater, Michael Caine, Anne Bishop and Thomas Baptiste.
Cast Attributes
- Time Period Present Day, 1950s
- Setting A room in a large house. The present.
- Features Contemporary Costumes/Street Clothes
- Duration 60 minutes (1 hour)
Licensing & Materials
- Minimum Fee: £40 per performance plus VAT when applicable.
Performance rights for this title are currently withdrawn in the UK. To be informed as soon as it becomes available in the future, please submit a license application.