The Homecoming by Harold Pinter

Harold Pinter wrote the two-act drama The Homecoming in 1964, and it was originally released in 1965. This is one of the Best Plays Of All Times. Both of its world premieres—in London in 1965 and New York in 1967—were overseen by Sir Peter Hall. The 1967 Tony Award for Best Play went to the Broadway version. For "Best Revival of a Play," its 40th anniversary Broadway staging at the Cort Theatre received a 2008 Tony Award nomination.

The play's North London setting has six characters. Five of them are males who are related to one another: Sam, a driver; Max, a retired butcher; and Max's three sons: Teddy is a professor of philosophy in the United States; Lenny, a pimp who only casually mentions his "employment," his customers, and his apartments in the city (London); and Joey, a monster who works in demolition while studying to be a professional boxer.

Only Ruth, Teddy's wife, is present. The "homecoming" that Teddy and Ruth experience in the play has quite different symbolic and thematic ramifications. Pinter's first wife, Vivien Merchant, played Ruth in both the original plays and the subsequent film of the same name.

Written by: Harold Pinter

Created: 1965