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Amy's View
Amy's View is a play written by British playwright David Hare. It premiered in London at the Royal National Theatre's Lyttelton Theatre on 13 June 1997, directed by Richard Eyre and starring Judi Dench, Ronald Pickup and Samantha Bond in the title role. It transferred to the Aldwych Theatre in the West End from January to April 1998, then moved to Broadway on 15 April 1999 for a limited run at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre, again directed by Eyre. Dench, Pickup and Bond reprised their original roles, resulting in a Tony nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Play, to Bond, and the Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Play, to Dench. In addition, Hare received a special citation from the New York Drama Critics' Circle. The play was revived in November 2006 at the Garrick Theatre, with Felicity Kendal and Jenna Russell in the lead roles, and ran until February 2007.
The play takes place in Berkshire, near Pangbourne, and in London, from 1979 to 1995. Over the course of these sixteen years, "a running argument about the respective virtues of traditional theater and the media arts weaves its way through espoused opinions on marriage, love, fame, fidelity, betrayal, personal and artistic integrity, and the sometimes elusive ethics of the corporate world, among other things."
David Hare is often noted for his critical views of British society, and throughout the sixteen years during which the play is set, Margaret Thatcher was becoming increasingly prominent and powerful within the British government and Lloyd's of London was experiencing great turmoil in dealing with insurance claims. Hare’s own knowledge of the theater as well as filmmaking is a prominent source of the criticisms and benefits of the two mediums argued about by the fictional Dominic and Esme.
Amy Thomas is a young woman, just twenty-three at the start of the play, who is the daughter of Esme Allen. She is "dark haired with an unmistakable air of quiet resolution." She created a small publication when she was a girl called Amy's View. She is in a relationship with Dominic.
Esme Allen is Amy's mother and a prominent West end actress. She is forty-nine at the start of the play, and is "surprisingly small, her manner both sensitive and intense. Something in her vulnerability makes people instantly protective of her." She constantly butts heads with Dominic, and has an interesting relationship with Frank.
Dominic Tyghe is Amy's boyfriend (or husband, depending on the moment of the play). He is a year younger than Amy, and quite attractive. He is an orphan, having never known his parents, and aspires to be a successful filmmaker.
Frank Oddie is one of Esme's neighbors, as well as a commissioning agent for Lloyd's of London. He looks after Esme's investments and other financial matters. He is "in his early fifties, easy going and amiable," and he is desperate to marry Esme, who continues to refuse him year after year.
Evelyn Thomas is Esme's mother in law, Amy's grandma. She is "white haired, in her late seventies," and lives with Esme. She becomes increasingly decrepit - both physically and mentally - throughout the play.
Toby Cole is a young actor in his twenties who works in a production with Esme at the end of the play.
The characters age about sixteen years throughout, so their general demeanor and appearance should change, if just slightly.
Act 1
We are introduced to Amy, Dominic, Evelyn, and Esme (all the characters except Frank and Toby). Esme and Dominic immediately dislike one another because of their differing views: Dominic supports new media and aspires to become a filmmaker, while Esme defends the importance of the theater. We learn that Amy is pregnant, and Esme reveals this to Dominic – despite Amy's wishes that she says nothing of it.
Act 2
We are introduced to Frank, Esme's neighbour and financial consultant, and their relationship is hinted at. Amy and Dominic are still together, with children, but Esme continues to disapprove. There is also a continuation of Esme and Dominic's argument over popular culture and theater. The argument turns into one over Dominic's right to be with Amy and there is such frustration that the couple end up leaving Esme's home abruptly.
Act 3
Amy comes back to visit her mother, and we learn that Dominic has left Amy for a young actress. Esme has also lost all her savings in an investment scandal, and continues to refuse Frank's love interest. Amy and Esme again quarrel over her choice to be with Dominic, discussing her view that love should be given unconditionally. She does not want to admit that her mother was partially right, but is still frustrated that Esme cannot see why she loved Dominic.
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Amy's View
Amy's View is a play written by British playwright David Hare. It premiered in London at the Royal National Theatre's Lyttelton Theatre on 13 June 1997, directed by Richard Eyre and starring Judi Dench, Ronald Pickup and Samantha Bond in the title role. It transferred to the Aldwych Theatre in the West End from January to April 1998, then moved to Broadway on 15 April 1999 for a limited run at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre, again directed by Eyre. Dench, Pickup and Bond reprised their original roles, resulting in a Tony nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Play, to Bond, and the Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Play, to Dench. In addition, Hare received a special citation from the New York Drama Critics' Circle. The play was revived in November 2006 at the Garrick Theatre, with Felicity Kendal and Jenna Russell in the lead roles, and ran until February 2007.
The play takes place in Berkshire, near Pangbourne, and in London, from 1979 to 1995. Over the course of these sixteen years, "a running argument about the respective virtues of traditional theater and the media arts weaves its way through espoused opinions on marriage, love, fame, fidelity, betrayal, personal and artistic integrity, and the sometimes elusive ethics of the corporate world, among other things."
David Hare is often noted for his critical views of British society, and throughout the sixteen years during which the play is set, Margaret Thatcher was becoming increasingly prominent and powerful within the British government and Lloyd's of London was experiencing great turmoil in dealing with insurance claims. Hare’s own knowledge of the theater as well as filmmaking is a prominent source of the criticisms and benefits of the two mediums argued about by the fictional Dominic and Esme.
Amy Thomas is a young woman, just twenty-three at the start of the play, who is the daughter of Esme Allen. She is "dark haired with an unmistakable air of quiet resolution." She created a small publication when she was a girl called Amy's View. She is in a relationship with Dominic.
Esme Allen is Amy's mother and a prominent West end actress. She is forty-nine at the start of the play, and is "surprisingly small, her manner both sensitive and intense. Something in her vulnerability makes people instantly protective of her." She constantly butts heads with Dominic, and has an interesting relationship with Frank.
Dominic Tyghe is Amy's boyfriend (or husband, depending on the moment of the play). He is a year younger than Amy, and quite attractive. He is an orphan, having never known his parents, and aspires to be a successful filmmaker.
Frank Oddie is one of Esme's neighbors, as well as a commissioning agent for Lloyd's of London. He looks after Esme's investments and other financial matters. He is "in his early fifties, easy going and amiable," and he is desperate to marry Esme, who continues to refuse him year after year.
Evelyn Thomas is Esme's mother in law, Amy's grandma. She is "white haired, in her late seventies," and lives with Esme. She becomes increasingly decrepit - both physically and mentally - throughout the play.
Toby Cole is a young actor in his twenties who works in a production with Esme at the end of the play.
The characters age about sixteen years throughout, so their general demeanor and appearance should change, if just slightly.
Act 1
We are introduced to Amy, Dominic, Evelyn, and Esme (all the characters except Frank and Toby). Esme and Dominic immediately dislike one another because of their differing views: Dominic supports new media and aspires to become a filmmaker, while Esme defends the importance of the theater. We learn that Amy is pregnant, and Esme reveals this to Dominic – despite Amy's wishes that she says nothing of it.
Act 2
We are introduced to Frank, Esme's neighbour and financial consultant, and their relationship is hinted at. Amy and Dominic are still together, with children, but Esme continues to disapprove. There is also a continuation of Esme and Dominic's argument over popular culture and theater. The argument turns into one over Dominic's right to be with Amy and there is such frustration that the couple end up leaving Esme's home abruptly.
Act 3
Amy comes back to visit her mother, and we learn that Dominic has left Amy for a young actress. Esme has also lost all her savings in an investment scandal, and continues to refuse Frank's love interest. Amy and Esme again quarrel over her choice to be with Dominic, discussing her view that love should be given unconditionally. She does not want to admit that her mother was partially right, but is still frustrated that Esme cannot see why she loved Dominic.