311:
In the programme notes to the original production Hare writes that "...ambiguity is central to the idea of the play. The audience is asked to make its own mind up about each of the actions.". This ambiguity, however, was not understood by contemporary critics, who found themselves in a "consensus of
322:
through "pure laziness" and because they were offered no easy solutions to the social problems presented on stage. After later productions, both in the theatre and on film, "...time has shown the play to be a significant contribution to both
British and world drama.".
269:
Susan
Traherne, a former secret agent, is a woman conflicted by the contrast between her past, exciting triumphs and her present, more ordinary life. She had worked behind enemy lines as a
37:
63:
operations divorced in the immediate post-war years; the title is derived from the idea that the post-war era would be a time of "plenty", which proved untrue for most of
England.
510:
303:, alternating between her wartime and post-wartime lives, illustrating how youthful dreams rarely are realised and how a person's personal life can affect the outside world.
250:
as Susan
Traherne and Corey Stoll as Raymond Brock. The 1978, 1982, 1983 and 1999 scripts were all examined and Hare was consulted as the production took shape.
433:
193:
246:
The play was revived Off-Broadway at The Public
Theater, opening on 20 October 2016. David Leveaux directed, with the cast that starred
1153:
514:
408:
652:
197:
253:
Plenty was revived at
Chichester in 2019, in the Festival Theatre between 7-29 June. Kate Hewitt directed and it starred
593:
352:
201:
100:
537:
437:
476:
1158:
270:
60:
125:, where it ran for 45 performances. Directed by Hare, Nelligan reprised the role of Susan, supported by
1065:
280:. However, she regrets the mundane nature of her present life, as the increasingly depressed wife of a
951:
747:
712:
227:
138:
48:
1089:
645:
1148:
1097:
662:
240:
25:
1116:
1010:
994:
691:
236:
71:
288:, Susan has become self-absorbed, bored, and destructive — the slow deterioration in her
212:
871:
733:
83:
1026:
832:
775:
8:
1143:
850:
800:
782:
638:
359:
221:
1002:
978:
959:
814:
768:
740:
541:
110:
492:
889:
761:
754:
589:
562:
986:
903:
807:
285:
254:
216:
181:
150:
134:
130:
1057:
719:
557:
461:
314:
142:
44:
1049:
1018:
386:
380:
232:
208:
146:
126:
122:
105:
612:
312:
confusion" over the work's meaning and significance. Colin Ludlow, writing in
1137:
943:
896:
857:
726:
705:
566:
293:
289:
173:
169:
161:
157:
87:
79:
40:
277:
247:
185:
177:
165:
118:
141:, running for 92 performances and eleven previews. Nelligan was joined by
864:
684:
258:
318:
later that year, found that his fellow critics had failed to understand
1081:
336:
300:
75:
630:
36:
1073:
189:
622:
617:
59:
came from the fact that 75 per cent of the women engaged in wartime
348:
1983 Tony Award for Best
Featured Actor in a Play (Martin, nominee)
281:
434:"The Nominees and Winners of The Laurence Olivier Awards for 1978"
585:
273:
28:, first performed in 1978, about British post-war disillusion.
345:
1983 Tony Award for Best
Actress in a Play (Nelligan, nominee)
192:
in supporting roles. Ullman and
Gielgud were nominated for
355:
Award for Best
Foreign Play of the 1982–83 Season (winner)
342:
1983 Tony Award for Best Actor in Play (Herrmann, nominee)
215:. From 3 to 26 February 2011 the play was revived at the
196:, and Gielgud was named Best Supporting Actor by the
364:
Distinguished Performance, Edward Herrmann (winner)
292:mirrors the crises in the ruling class of post-war
284:whose career she has destroyed. Viewing society as
538:"Off Broadway Review: 'Plenty' With Rachel Weisz"
367:Distinguished Performance, Kate Nelligan (winner)
1135:
436:. Official London Theatre Guide. Archived from
299:Susan Traherne's story is told in a non-linear
555:Ludlow, Colin (July 1978). "Hare and Others".
646:
137:(directed by Hare) on 6 January 1983 at the
653:
639:
219:as part of a David Hare season (alongside
326:
211:played Susan in a production in London's
35:
660:
582:A Study Guide for David Hare's "Plenty"
1136:
554:
472:
470:
464:lortel.org, retrieved 11 February 2017
634:
457:
455:
86:as Raymond. It was nominated for the
623:Internet Movie Database listing for
482:Playbill, retrieved 11 February 2017
198:Los Angeles Film Critics Association
467:
13:
613:Internet Broadway Database listing
452:
14:
1170:
606:
1154:British plays adapted into films
202:National Society of Film Critics
618:Internet Movie Database listing
276:in Nazi-occupied France during
82:as Susan, the protagonist, and
573:
548:
530:
503:
485:
426:
401:
353:New York Drama Critics' Circle
31:
1:
394:
306:
271:Special Operations Executive
66:Directed by the playwright,
7:
511:"David Hare Season: Plenty"
493:"Plenty of praise for Cate"
373:
331:Sources: Playbill; Lortel
264:
121:on 21 October 1982, at the
78:on 7 April 1978, featuring
10:
1175:
96:Best Actress in a New Play
1108:
1041:
970:
933:
926:
917:
881:
842:
824:
792:
676:
669:
527:sheffieldtheatres.co.uk
462:" 'Plenty' Off-Broadway"
413:National Theatre Archive
101:Whose Life is it Anyway?
1098:Salting the Battlefield
339:for Best Play (nominee)
1117:The Designated Mourner
327:Awards and nominations
153:and George N. Martin.
52:
580:"Critical Overview".
133:. The play opened on
39:
776:The Moderate Soprano
384:(1978) – a BBC
55:The inspiration for
1159:Plays by David Hare
783:Straight Line Crazy
517:on 27 February 2011
360:Drama League Awards
117:The play premiered
1090:Turks & Caicos
952:The Secret Rapture
815:The Absence of War
748:The Breath of Life
713:The Secret Rapture
561:. pp. 76–78.
440:on 18 January 2008
228:The Breath of Life
53:
16:Play by David Hare
1131:
1130:
1127:
1126:
1037:
1036:
913:
912:
890:The Permanent Way
755:The Vertical Hour
545:, 20 October 2016
536:Stasio, Marilyn.
72:Lyttelton Theatre
70:premiered in the
1166:
931:
930:
924:
923:
904:The Power of Yes
882:Verbatim theatre
808:Murmuring Judges
692:Teeth 'n' Smiles
674:
673:
655:
648:
641:
632:
631:
600:
599:
577:
571:
570:
552:
546:
534:
528:
526:
524:
522:
513:. Archived from
507:
501:
500:
499:. 28 April 1999.
489:
483:
479:Plenty' Broadway
474:
465:
459:
450:
449:
447:
445:
430:
424:
423:
421:
419:
405:
286:morally bankrupt
255:Rachael Stirling
217:Crucible Theatre
160:was directed by
156:In 1985, Hare's
151:Madeleine Potter
139:Plymouth Theatre
131:Dominic Chianese
94:and Nelligan as
92:Play of the Year
49:Plymouth Theatre
1174:
1173:
1169:
1168:
1167:
1165:
1164:
1163:
1134:
1133:
1132:
1123:
1104:
1042:Writer/director
1033:
966:
935:
919:
909:
877:
838:
820:
788:
665:
659:
609:
604:
603:
596:
579:
578:
574:
558:London Magazine
553:
549:
535:
531:
520:
518:
509:
508:
504:
491:
490:
486:
475:
468:
460:
453:
443:
441:
432:
431:
427:
417:
415:
407:
406:
402:
397:
376:
329:
315:London Magazine
309:
267:
241:Bruce Alexander
158:film adaptation
143:Edward Herrmann
51:production 1983
45:Edward Herrmann
34:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1172:
1162:
1161:
1156:
1151:
1149:Broadway plays
1146:
1129:
1128:
1125:
1124:
1122:
1121:
1112:
1110:
1106:
1105:
1103:
1102:
1094:
1086:
1078:
1070:
1066:Paris by Night
1062:
1054:
1050:Licking Hitler
1045:
1043:
1039:
1038:
1035:
1034:
1032:
1031:
1023:
1019:The White Crow
1015:
1007:
999:
991:
983:
974:
972:
968:
967:
965:
964:
956:
948:
939:
937:
928:
921:
920:and television
915:
914:
911:
910:
908:
907:
900:
893:
885:
883:
879:
878:
876:
875:
872:Beat the Devil
868:
861:
854:
846:
844:
840:
839:
837:
836:
828:
826:
822:
821:
819:
818:
811:
804:
796:
794:
790:
789:
787:
786:
779:
772:
765:
758:
751:
744:
737:
734:The Judas Kiss
730:
723:
716:
709:
702:
695:
688:
680:
678:
671:
667:
666:
658:
657:
650:
643:
635:
629:
628:
625:Licking Hitler
620:
615:
608:
607:External links
605:
602:
601:
594:
584:. Boston, MA:
572:
547:
529:
502:
484:
466:
451:
425:
399:
398:
396:
393:
392:
391:
387:Play for Today
381:Licking Hitler
375:
372:
371:
370:
369:
368:
365:
356:
349:
346:
343:
340:
328:
325:
308:
305:
266:
263:
237:Edward Bennett
233:Hattie Morahan
213:Albery Theatre
209:Cate Blanchett
168:as Susan, and
147:Daniel Gerroll
127:Kelsey Grammer
123:Public Theater
106:Joan Plowright
33:
30:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1171:
1160:
1157:
1155:
1152:
1150:
1147:
1145:
1142:
1141:
1139:
1119:
1118:
1114:
1113:
1111:
1107:
1100:
1099:
1095:
1092:
1091:
1087:
1084:
1083:
1079:
1076:
1075:
1071:
1068:
1067:
1063:
1060:
1059:
1055:
1052:
1051:
1047:
1046:
1044:
1040:
1029:
1028:
1024:
1021:
1020:
1016:
1013:
1012:
1008:
1005:
1004:
1000:
997:
996:
992:
989:
988:
984:
981:
980:
976:
975:
973:
969:
962:
961:
957:
954:
953:
949:
946:
945:
941:
940:
938:
932:
929:
925:
922:
916:
906:
905:
901:
899:
898:
897:Stuff Happens
894:
892:
891:
887:
886:
884:
880:
874:
873:
869:
867:
866:
862:
860:
859:
855:
853:
852:
848:
847:
845:
841:
835:
834:
833:The Blue Room
830:
829:
827:
823:
817:
816:
812:
810:
809:
805:
803:
802:
798:
797:
795:
791:
785:
784:
780:
778:
777:
773:
771:
770:
766:
764:
763:
759:
757:
756:
752:
750:
749:
745:
743:
742:
738:
736:
735:
731:
729:
728:
724:
722:
721:
717:
715:
714:
710:
708:
707:
703:
701:
700:
696:
694:
693:
689:
687:
686:
682:
681:
679:
675:
672:
668:
664:
656:
651:
649:
644:
642:
637:
636:
633:
627:
626:
621:
619:
616:
614:
611:
610:
597:
595:9781375386425
591:
587:
583:
576:
568:
564:
560:
559:
551:
544:
543:
539:
533:
516:
512:
506:
498:
494:
488:
481:
480:
473:
471:
463:
458:
456:
439:
435:
429:
414:
410:
404:
400:
390:by David Hare
389:
388:
383:
382:
378:
377:
366:
363:
362:
361:
357:
354:
350:
347:
344:
341:
338:
334:
333:
332:
324:
321:
317:
316:
304:
302:
297:
295:
291:
290:mental health
287:
283:
279:
275:
272:
262:
260:
257:as Susan and
256:
251:
249:
244:
242:
238:
234:
231:), featuring
230:
229:
224:
223:
218:
214:
210:
205:
203:
199:
195:
191:
187:
183:
179:
175:
174:Tracey Ullman
171:
170:Charles Dance
167:
163:
162:Fred Schepisi
159:
154:
152:
148:
144:
140:
136:
132:
128:
124:
120:
115:
113:
112:
107:
103:
102:
97:
93:
89:
88:Olivier Award
85:
84:Stephen Moore
81:
80:Kate Nelligan
77:
73:
69:
64:
62:
58:
50:
46:
43:as Susan and
42:
41:Kate Nelligan
38:
29:
27:
24:is a play by
23:
22:
1115:
1096:
1088:
1080:
1072:
1064:
1056:
1048:
1025:
1017:
1009:
1001:
993:
985:
977:
958:
950:
942:
936:of own plays
934:Adaptations
902:
895:
888:
870:
863:
856:
851:Via Dolorosa
849:
831:
813:
806:
801:Racing Demon
799:
781:
774:
767:
760:
753:
746:
739:
732:
725:
718:
711:
704:
698:
697:
690:
683:
624:
581:
575:
556:
550:
540:
532:
519:. Retrieved
515:the original
505:
496:
487:
478:
442:. Retrieved
438:the original
428:
416:. Retrieved
412:
403:
385:
379:
330:
319:
313:
310:
298:
278:World War II
268:
261:as Raymond.
252:
248:Rachel Weisz
245:
226:
222:Racing Demon
220:
206:
194:BAFTA Awards
186:Ian McKellen
178:John Gielgud
166:Meryl Streep
155:
119:Off-Broadway
116:
109:
99:
98:, losing to
95:
91:
74:on London's
67:
65:
56:
54:
47:as Raymond,
20:
19:
18:
1030:(TV series)
1014:(TV series)
960:My Zinc Bed
825:Adaptations
769:South Downs
741:My Zinc Bed
670:Stage plays
259:Rory Keenan
32:Productions
1144:1978 plays
1138:Categories
1082:Page Eight
1011:Collateral
995:The Reader
843:Monologues
762:Gethsemane
727:Amy's View
663:David Hare
444:4 December
418:6 November
395:References
337:Tony Award
301:chronology
76:South Bank
26:David Hare
1074:Strapless
987:The Hours
963:(TV film)
661:Works by
567:0024-6085
307:Reception
207:In 1999,
190:Sam Neill
1109:Director
1058:Wetherby
1027:Roadkill
971:New work
720:Skylight
588:. 2017.
497:BBC News
409:"Plenty"
374:See also
282:diplomat
265:Overview
200:and the
135:Broadway
111:Filumena
793:Trilogy
586:Cengage
542:Variety
294:Britain
274:courier
164:, with
1120:(film)
1101:(film)
1093:(film)
1085:(film)
1077:(film)
1069:(film)
1061:(film)
1022:(film)
1006:(film)
1003:Denial
998:(film)
990:(film)
982:(film)
979:Damage
955:(film)
947:(film)
944:Plenty
927:Writer
858:Berlin
706:Pravda
699:Plenty
592:
565:
320:Plenty
188:, and
68:Plenty
57:Plenty
21:Plenty
677:Drama
521:5 May
358:1983
351:1983
335:1983
182:Sting
1053:(TV)
918:Film
865:Wall
685:Slag
590:ISBN
563:ISSN
523:2011
446:2007
420:2020
239:and
225:and
129:and
104:and
108:in
90:as
61:SOE
1140::
495:.
477:"
469:^
454:^
411:.
296:.
243:.
235:,
204:.
184:,
180:,
176:,
172:,
149:,
145:,
114:.
654:e
647:t
640:v
598:.
569:.
525:.
448:.
422:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.