Starring:
Juliette Binoche
Liev Schreiber
John Slattery
Betrayal is a play written by Harold Pinter in 1978. Critically regarded as one of the English playwright's major dramatic works, it features his characteristically economical dialogue, characters' hidden emotions and veiled motivations, and their self-absorbed competitive one-upmanship, face-saving, dishonesty, and self-deceptions.
Inspired by Pinter's clandestine extramarital affair with BBC Television presenter Joan Bakewell, which spanned seven years, from 1962 to 1969, the plot of Betrayal integrates different permutations of betrayal relating to a seven-year affair involving a married couple, Emma (Juliette Binoche) and Robert (John Slattery), and Robert's friend Jerry (Liev Schreiber), who is also married, to a woman named Judith. For five years Jerry and Emma carry on their affair without Robert's knowledge, both cuckolding Robert and betraying Judith, until Emma, without telling Jerry she has done so, admits her infidelity to Robert (in effect, betraying Jerry), although she continues their affair.
Pinter's particular usage of reverse chronology in structuring the plot is innovative: the first scene takes place after the affair has ended; the final scene ends when the affair begins.
Betrayal co-starring Liev Schreiber and John Slattery marked Juliette Binoche's Broadway debut and saw her nominated for a Best Actress Tony Award.
Emma
Jerry
Robert
Waiter
Juliette Binoche
Liev Schreiber
John Slattery
Mark Lotito
Directed by
Written by
Decors and costume design by
Lighting design by
Sound design by
Dialect coach
Production manager
Produced by
David Leveaux
Harold Pinter
Rob Howell
David Weiner
Donald DiNicola
Kate Wilson
Arthur Gaffin
Todd Haimes
Ellen Richard
Julia C. Levy
The Roundabout Theatre Company
American Airlines Theatre
Directed by David Leveaux
2000
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