The Secret Rapture
David Hare
A sharp-edged comedy of manners that evolves into a tragic examination of human goodness in a materialistic age. Following the death of their father, two sisters—the selfless, artistic Isobel and the ruthless, Thatcherite politician Marion—clash over their father’s legacy and the care of his alcoholic widow. The play explores how the purity of one individual can be seen as a provocation to others who have compromised their values for power and success. It is a bleak but brilliant study of the psychology of the 1980s, where greed was championed as a virtue and kindness was often exploited.
Isobel Glass: A gentle, talented woman who attempts to live an authentic life of integrity, only to find her goodness exploited by those around her. Marion French: Isobel’s sister, a high-ranking Conservative MP whose rigid adherence to self-interest and political pragmatism leads to devastating family consequences. Katherine Glass: Their father’s young, unstable, and alcoholic second wife, whose erratic behavior forces the sisters into a series of increasingly bitter confrontations.
First Performance: 1988, at Lyttelton Theatre (National Theatre), London
Widely acclaimed; noted for its piercing critique of the Thatcher era and its emotional intensity.
Original Actors: Jill Baker, Penelope Wilton