Betrayal tells the story of Jerry’s illicit, seven-year-long affair with his best friend’s wife. Inspired by Pinter’s own clandestine affair, it is a searing exploration of the consequences of infidelity.
The play begins one evening, in the present, with Jerry and Emma meeting two years after the end of their affair. The plot unfolds in reverse chronology to the moment the affair began nine years before. The pressures of moving backwards in time are handled deftly by the cast, who remain resolutely ‘in the moment,’ never letting their scenes be clouded by what they and the audience know happens in the future.
J. Preston Witt is outstanding as Jerry, particularly since the dialogue and intonation are potentially challenging for an American actor. He flawlessly conveys the depth of Jerry’s love for Emma, and it is a testament both to Pinter’s writing and Witt’s acting that Jerry remains a likeable character.
From the opening moments of the very first scene, Cicely Hadman’s Emma competently conveys the awkwardness of her relationship with Jerry, veering between vulnerable and defensive. Although her expression occasionally teeters on the edge of blandness, she manages to convey Emma’s anguish and unwillingness to reveal her true feelings in a truthful manner. Alex Worsnip is excellent as Robert, infusing his scenes with humour whilst maintaining a hint of cold ruthlessness. His nuanced delivery makes the audience question just how much he really knew of the affair. The entire cast does a fine job of delivering Pinter’s dialogue with the pathos it deserves, filling the lines with layered meanings.
Robert Williams does a superb job in his first outing as a director. To tackle a play as complex as this is an ambitious task and he handles it with aplomb.
His direction is elegant and emotive, deftly capturing the intimacy between Jerry and Emma. The simple lighting lets the dialogue and emotion speak for themselves.
The use of news clips to set the date prevents the time changes from becoming hackneyed and, along with the use of flowers, envelops you in memories. The traverse staging serves the intimate atmosphere of the play well, and helps create the suggestion that Jerry and Emma are trapped by their feelings for each other and for Robert.
Betrayal is an excellent production of a fantastic play. It is surely one of the must-sees for the term.
Four Stars
Alice Salvage
