Betrayal

Betrayal, a classic play by Harold Pinter, explores themes of marriage and infidelity through reverse chronology. With the cast speaking in a British dialect, the play provides a glimpse into the lives of Emma and Jerry, who have been in a seven-year affair, hiding it from Emma's husband, Robert, and Jerry's wife, Judith, who is mentioned but not seen in the play. Moving backward in time, Pinter allows the audience to gradually uncover their relationships and the emotional turmoil stemming from their deceit. Pinter's dialogue, which features loaded pauses, sarcastic remarks, and scrutinized dialogue, displaying tension and the unsaid feelings that are implied but not directly communicated, highlights the fragile nature of trust within marriages. Each character grapples with their desires, regrets, consequences of their actions, and the challenges of their infidelity vs their fidelity towards each other while in an adulterous relationship.

The nonlinear narrative begins with Jerry and Emma meeting at a pub several years after calling off their affair. They gradually peel back the layers of the secretive relationship to reveal who started the affair and how it started. Pinter's Betrayal is compelling. However, most of the audience leaving Theatre Goodman seemed mixed—some were engaged, some confused, and others ambivalent after witnessing Helen Hunt, Robert Sean Leonard, and Ian Barford on stage for this 75-minute performance. The play moves deliberately slow at the beginning, with Jerry and Emma awkwardly communicating, then gradually moving back in time, revealing a deeper understanding of each character's role within the play's dynamics. An approach can undoubtedly lead to confusion; however, I found it refreshingly stimulating. As a marriage counselor for decades, I quickly connected the dots in this seemingly disconnected relationship among the three. Inspired by his affair with Joan Bakewell and Antonia Fraser, Pinter's 1978 play Betrayal was inspired by his affair with Bakewell. I love the awkward moments, the evasiveness, and the suspicion he brings to the play while adding a little humor. It lines up more with reality.

With star powers Hunt, Leonard, and Barford, it feels like you were peaking into an emotional triangle, with a few reminiscing about their affairs. Hunt and Leonard were engaging. However, I was genuinely impressed by Barford's portrayal of Robert. His charisma shines through in every scene, while his captivating chemistry with the cast adds depth to the performance and his mannerisms of a deceived husband, effectively conveying Pinter's aim for the role. Overall, Barford brought the character to life, delivering a powerful performance. Though some dialogues unfold spontaneously and may appear trivial about the play's central theme, "Betrayal" is a masterfully crafted work that compels you to interrogate the foundation of marital fidelity.

You may wonder if the affair was a secret at the end of this reverse chronology play. Questioning that and your relationship, I believe it was Pinter's primary goal. As the quote suggests, "The saddest thing about betrayal is that it never comes from enemies; it comes from those you trust the most." 

⭐⭐⭐

Theatre Goodman

Betrayal

By Harold Pinter

Directed by Susan V. Booth

February 8 - March 30, 2025

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