Silence (1969 play)

Silence is a short play by Harold Pinter first performed in 1969.

For the 1999 play of this title by Moira Buffini, see Silence (1999 play).
Silence
Ellen and Bates, in 2008 Shimer College production
Written byHarold Pinter
CharactersEllen
Rumsey
Bates
Date premiered2 July 1969 (1969-07-02)
Place premieredLondon
Original languageEnglish
GenreOne-act play

Production

The première was given by the Royal Shakespeare Company in London on 2 July 1969, directed by Peter Hall.[1]

The cast was:[1]

The American première was given in 1970 by the Repertory Theater of Lincoln Center, with Barbara Tarbuck, Robert Symonds and James Patterson, directed by Peter Gill.[2]

Background

In the introduction to the first volume of his Complete Plays, Pinter wrote:

There are two silences. One when no word is spoken. The other when perhaps a torrent of language is being employed. This speech is speaking of a language locked beneath it. That is its continual reference. The speech we hear is an indication of that which we don't hear. It is a necessary avoidance, a violent, sly, anguished or mocking smoke screen which keeps the other in its place. When true silence falls we are still left with echo but are nearer nakedness. One way of looking at speech is to say that it is a constant stratagem to cover nakedness.[2]

Notes

  1. Pinter p. 100
  2. Landscape and Silence Archived 2009-02-02 at the Wayback Machine
gollark: https://pastebin.com/K1dHumXu
gollark: Zoey, have YOU seen the glory of quick sort.c?
gollark: You need to escape those *s.
gollark: I should really have improved quick sort.c with the gibson style guide.
gollark: Ah, well, quick sort.c produces *no* warnings in that.

References

Pinter, Harold. Plays: Three. London: Eyre Methuen, 1978. ISBN 0-413-38480-2.


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