The Blue Room
David Hare
An erotic and stylish adaptation of Arthur Schnitzler's 'La Ronde', this play consists of ten interconnected scenes of sexual encounters that cross the social strata of a modern city. Each scene features one character from the previous encounter, creating a circular chain of lust, betrayal, and unfulfillment. Hare moves the setting to contemporary London, using the sexual merry-go-round to explore the loneliness and artifice of modern urban life. The play is famous for its physical demands on the actors, who each play five different roles, shifting identities and costumes with lightning speed.
The Woman (Multiple Roles): A single actress who portrays characters ranging from a streetwalker to a high-society wife, exploring the universal nature of sexual desire and deception. The Man (Multiple Roles): A single actor who plays roles from a student to an aristocrat, illustrating the power dynamics and emotional hollows present in modern relationships.
First Performance: 1998, at Donmar Warehouse, London
A sensational West End hit, famously described by critics as pure theatrical Viagra due to Nicole Kidman's performance.
Original Actors: Nicole Kidman, Iain Glen