Play: The Homecoming by Harold Pinter, 1965, no ISBN or LC number. This is a book club edition by Grove Press, Inc and came from Waterloo P.L.
I was listening to BBC 6 Music a week or two ago and one of the announcers was discussing the film The Go-Between. He was talking about the flick being impressive and when he spoke about the screenwriter, Harold Pinter, he spoke of Pinter as if Pinter's fame is known by all. Or, at least known by the British. Since I had no idea who Pinter was I looked him and found out he was awarded a Nobel for literature. "Dang, seems like I should have heard of the guy," I think to myself. "Might as well request a couple of his plays."
Homecoming is from 1965 and is set in one room in a house in North London. Inside the home live two older brothers, Max and Sam, and Max's two adult sons, Teddy and Joey. Max is a retired jerk. Sam is a chauffeur. Joey is a factory worker and boxer. Teddy is a pimp. A third son and his wife, Teddy and Ruth, make a surprise visit after an absence of several years. Teddy is a college professor in the States. Ruth used to live in the neighborhood.
If not for reading some play commentary I'd have no idea what the fuck was going on. It's a dark comedy but that never comes through to me from reading the play. That's all I have to say about it. I don't know if I am unskilled in reading plays or what. Maybe the changes in comedy over the years do not translate for me.
I still have Pinter's play No Man's Land at home and will read it.
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3 comments:
I saw this at Stratford (Ontario) with Brian Dennehy. I find it difficult to read plays like this. I need the actor to bring his voice into it.
I have actually seen it twice.Once in London with Michael Sheen and Eddie Marston and once in Stratford Ontario with Brian Dennehy. I find plays difficult to read. I need the actor's intonations to help.
Agreed. I need an actor and director to translate everything for me.
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