Saturday, December 22, 2007

Play review – “The Browning Version/”Harlequinade” by Terrence Rattigan

William Goldman in The Season once listed a number of features of the "homosexual mystique"including (1) all husbands are panderers (2) all wives are whores (3) the only wisdom lies in bachelors and young boys. All three are on display in The Browning Version, with the weak failed teacher and his man hungry bitch of a wife who is having an affair with a young bachelor teacher who actually is a decent chap and there is a young sage. This piece still deserves is reputation for the character of Croker-Harris and his plight is exquisitely evoked.

Harlequinade is a jaunty companion piece about the adventures of a travelling group of players. A bit familiar but this sort of thing is always fun if written with skill and affection and it is here.

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