Closer

by Marber, Patrick; Rosenthal, Daniel

• ISBN13: 9780713683295
• ISBN10: 0713683295
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2007-02-26
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Methuen Drama

Summary

The play focuses on the complex relationships, politics and morality of four people trading partners in search of love and lust. It uniquely blends elements of tragedy, comedy, and melodrama and challenges audience perceptions at every turn. Marber turns upside down romantic notions of love and sex uniting two people as one and pointedly challenges the idealistic notion that total honesty is the best way to preserve a relationship. As the four characters move in and out of relationships and expose their individual bleak takes on those relationships, the audience sees their self-delusions and their futile journey to find what they really desire in life. Marber's writing is noted for rapid dialogue with a staccato rhythm and intense exchanges that are at times abrasive and explicit in nature and are infused throughout with dark humor. This Student Edition comes complete with a full introduction, plot synopsis, commentary, discussion of the film version, bibliography and questions for study. It is the perfect edition for anyone studying the play at school or college. Patrick Marberwas born inLondon. His first play,Dealer's Choice,won theEvening StandardAward for Best Comedy and the Writer's Guild Award for Best West End Play.Closerpremiered at the Royal National Theatre in 1997 and on Broadway in 1999. Patrick Marber has also written extensively for television and radio includingAfter Miss Julie. The play focuses on the complex relationships, politics and morality of four people trading partners in search of love and lust. It uniquely blends elements of classical tragedy, classical comedy, and melodrama and challenges audience perceptions at every turn. Marber turns upside down romantic notions of love and sex uniting two people as one and the assumption that the absolute truth is healthy for relationships. This Student Edition comes complete with a full introduction, plot synopsis, commentary, discussion of the film version, bibliography and questions for study. The play focuses on the complex relationships, politics and morality of four people trading partners in search of love and lust. It uniquely blends elements of classical tragedy, classical comedy, and melodrama and challenges audience perceptions at every turn. Marber turns upside down romantic notions of love and sex uniting two people as one and the assumption that the absolute truth is healthy for relationships. This Student Edition comes complete with a full introduction, plot synopsis, commentary, discussion of the film version, bibliography and questions for study. It is the perfect edition for anyone studying the play at school or college. "Love and sex are like politics: it's not what you say that matters, still less what you mean, but what you do. Patrick Marber understands this perfectly, and in Closer he has written one of the best plays of sexual politics in the language: it is right up there with Williams'Streetcar, Mamet'sOleanna, Albee'sVirginia Woolf, Pinter'sOld Timesand Hare'sSkylight."--The Sunday Times(London) "Patrick Marber's searing follow-up to Dealer's Choice establishes him as the leading playwright of his generation."--The Independent on Sunday

Author Biography

Patrick Marber was born in London. His first play, Dealer's Choice, (1995) won the Evening Standard Award for Best Comedy and the Writer's Guild Award for Best West End Play. Closer premiered at the Royal National Theatre in May 1997 and went on to receive many awards. Patrick Marber has also written extensively for television and radio including After Miss Julie (BBC, 1995).

Table of Contents

"Love and sex are like politics: it's not what you say that matters, still less what you mean, but what you do. Patrick Marber understands this perfectly, and in Closer he has written one of the best plays of sexual politics in the language: it is right up there with Williams' Streetcar, Mamet's Oleanna, Albee's Virginia Woolf, Pinter's Old Times and Hare's Skylight."—The Sunday Times

"Patrick Marber's searing follow-up to Dealer's Choice establishes him as the leading playwright of his generation."— Independent on Sunday