The Servant

Synopsis

This is an adaptation of the 1963 film The Servant. The original screenplay by Harold Pinter tells the sinister story of a wily servant who turns the tables on his self indulgent wealthy master.

Our Review:

14 March 2001

The Servant is a revival that succeeds where so many others fail - by not only bringing new meaning to the original but also improving it immeasurably in the process. Robin Maugham first unleashed this nasty little tale about a young toff and his manipulative manservant as a novella in 1948. A decade later, he censored it for a stage version; in 1963, Harold Pinter had a go with a screenplay; and in 1968, Maugham responded with another theatrical re-write. It wasn't until penning his memoirs in 1972 that the author revealed the highly semi-autobiographical nature of the story.

For this latest reworking, Neil Bartlett returns to Maugham's original book, incorporating previously deleted material and employing sure-handed direction and clever casting to bring to the fore the homo-erotic sub-text previously only hinted at.

Set in the 1960s, this Servant begins when Tony (Jack Davenport) returns to London, desperate for a "civilised existence...

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Latest User Review

USER: Whatsonstage.com - 20 April 2001:

Most of these comments hit the nail on the head. Even the 1.30 matinee worked for me. Very good design from Rae Smith too....

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