Epitaph for George Dillon

Synopsis

Osborne s domestic and political drama of hope and disillusionment is set in a lower middle class household in South London. The Elliots live their unhappy suburban life until Kate Elliot brings home a surrogate for her son killed in war, the charismatic and bohemian George Dillon. He is an aspiring actor and penniless writer recently freed from the constraints of employment, his fall cushioned by the kindness and generosity of Kate Elliot.

Our Review:

28 September 2005

While Epitaph for George Dillon had its London premiere at the Royal Court in 1958, two years after Look Back in Anger, John Osborne actually wrote it – with his then collaborator Anthony Creighton – a year before the landmark play that made his name.

In this earlier ensemble-oriented piece, we’re confronted by an embryonic Jimmy Porter, the archetypal “angry young man”, in the title character. In fact, George Dillon is an even more thinly veiled version of Osborne himself: an aspiring actor-playwright embittered by the ongoing effort of ignoring his own failure (or continually waiting for success, depending on your outlook) and losing faith in his own ability. Is he truly afflicted with talent or only exhibiting symptoms of the disease?

George’s need to discover the answer to that question is allayed by the kindness of Kate Elliot, whose soldier son died in the war and who makes no bones about adopting the bohemian George as a surrogate. “...

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Latest User Review

82.44.16.116) - 11 December 2005:

A play of exceptional quality and really deserving of the extremely loud round of applause from the audience (despite the auditorium being practically empty, what a shame) The acting was the best I have seen in the West End. Francesca Annis and Joseph Fiennes were especially strong. This is wonderful writing from John Osborne and Anthony Creighton brought to life superbly by Peter Gill and his team. Go and see it while you can, I doubt you'll be disappointed....

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