Directed by Freddie Ashley
Master playwright Harold Pinter’s most famous work explores the seven‑year infidelity of married couple Emma and Robert and their “close friend” Jerry. Told in reverse chronology, this classic drama exposes the wounds displayed by narcissistic competition, dishonesty and self‑deception. It heartlessly shows that the very capacity for love itself is sometimes based not only on betraying loved ones, but even ourselves.
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About the Playwright
Harold Pinter was a playwright, screenwriter, director and actor. One of the most influential modern British dramatists, his writing career spanned more than 50 years. His best-known plays include The Birthday Party (1957), The Homecoming (1964), and Betrayal (1978), each of which he adapted to film. Betrayalwas inspired by Pinter’s seven-year affair with television presenter Joan Bakewell, who was married to the producer and director Michael Bakewell, while Pinter was married to actress Vivien Merchant. Harold Pinter’s screenplay adaptations of others’ works include The Servant (1963), The Go-Between (1970), The French Lieutenant’s Woman (1981), The Trial (1993) and Sleuth (2007). He also directed or acted in radio, stage, television, and film productions of his own and others’ works. He directed nearly 50 productions for stage, theatre and screen. Pinter received over 50 awards, prizes, and other honors, including the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2005 and the French Légion d’honneur in 2007. He died from liver cancer in 2008.
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Producer’s Quote
Aurora Theatre Producing Artistic Director Anthony Rodriguez talks about selecting Betrayal as a part of Aurora’s 17th season, “We have produced many of the 20th century’s great playwrights, so it is high time we take on a modern classic from Harold Pinter. For our season ticket holders we always try to offer a good balance of comedy, drama, new works and modern classics. We have two great new comedies coming up after the holidays. This play is an exquisitely written drama that audiences will adore.”
Lobby Art Exhibition
“3 Shoes”
Featuring the artwork of Amber Rushing, Bree Sauers
and Suzanne Clem-Wheeler
Reflecting on Websterʼs definition of “shoes” as “anotherʼs point of view,” three artists have created a special exhibit, each offering their take on the same subject, a pair of shoes, in addition to displaying other pieces of unique art. Suwanee artists Amber Rushing, Bree Sauers, and Suzanne Clem-Wheeler will be the featured artists in the Aurora lobby October 2 through November 12, 2012. Rushing is a professional photographer whose passion is creating fine art photography of the world as she captures ethereal scenes of peace and beauty with her camera. Sauers prides herself in creating art from that which the world has discarded, repurposing what otherʼs throw away into fascinating two- and three-dimensional wall hangings. Clem-Wheeler was exclusively a portrait artist until a few years ago when she decided to paint travel-inspired pieces in addition to the occasional portrait commission.
18×24 ink & acrylic on canvas by Suzanne Clem-Wheeler
Wine Down Wednesday
Free Wine Tasting in the Lobby Before Wednesday Evening Performances from 6:30–8:00pm
The wines paired for our production of Betrayal:
October 10: Featuring wines from Franco Serra Wines from Italy
- Gavi
- Barbera d’Alba
- Nebbiolo
- Barbaresco
- Dolcetta d’Alba
October 17: Featuring wines from Michael David Winery
- 7 Deadly Zins
- Incognito White
- Freakshow Cabernet Sauvignon
- Lust Zinfandel
- Rapture Cabernet Sauvignon
- Inkblot Cabernet Franc
Courtesy of
Niko’s Wine Corner
770.962.0348
October 4–October 28, 2012
Performances:
Wednesday–Saturday at 8:00pm
Saturday & Sunday at 2:30pm
Tickets $20–$30
Wednesday Discount Matinee
October 24 at 10:00am
Tickets $16
Show Sponsor:
| Cast | |
| Emma | Tess Malis Kincaid* |
| Jerry | Mark Kincaid* |
| Robert | Anthony P. Rodriguez |
| A Waiter | Adam Fiddler |
| Production Staff | |
| Producer | Anthony P. Rodriguez |
| Director | Freddie Ashley |
| Associate Producer | Ann-Carol Pence |
| Assistant Director | Adam Sechelski |
| Stage Manager | Kathryn M. Pelkey |
| Assistant Stage Manager | EB Hooyer |
| Set Designers | Isabel & Moriah Curley-Clay |
| Lighting Designer | Rob Dillard |
| Sound Designer | Thom Jenkins |
| Costume Designers | Isabel & Moriah Curley-Clay |
| Props Designer | EB Hooyer |
| Production Manager | Britt Hultgren Ramroop |
| Technical Director | James M. Helms |
| Assistant Technical Director | Daniel Terry |
| Scenic Artist | Sarah Thomson |
*Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
Betrayal is presented by special arrangement with
Dramatists Play Service, Inc., New York.
5 Questions with Director Freddie Ashley
We interviewed Director Freddie Ashley, Artistic Director of Actor’s Express, about the show.
How many productions have you directed for Aurora Theatre?
This is my eleventh Aurora production. The other shows I’ve directed here are: Lend Me a Tenor, As It Is In Heaven, Moon Over Buffalo, Wait Until Dark, Waving Goodbye, Glorious, Camelot, A Catered Affair, Academy andA Body of Water.
Plus, I’ve directed many of the Prelude to the 4th Concerts over the past ten years, including A nnie Get Your Gun, The Music Man, Oklahoma, Anything Goes, Crazy for You, Wizard of Oz, Beauty and the Beast and most recently Big River.
I’m actually proud of each and every one of the shows I’ve directed at Aurora, but the two that really stick out for me are A Catered Affair and A Body of Water. Both of those shows are so unique and I thought they were such gifts to the audience in their own ways–unexpected choices for the Aurora to make, but full of power and meaning for audiences. I thought both productions were big turning points for Aurora as an organization and it was thrilling to be part of that.
Have you directed a play by Harold Pinter before and what do you think distinguishes him from other playwrights?
This is my first Pinter play. What makes him one of the greatest playwrights of the last century is his spare and economic use of language. In Pinter’s work, what is unsaid is often far more important than what is said. There may be only a few words in a single line, but there can be huge emotional punch.
What is the biggest challenge you face as you approach work on Betrayal?
The biggest fear when approaching any great classic is a heightened sense of expectation. This play has been done so many times over the years by so many brilliant actors and directors, so the biggest challenge I feel is wondering what I will bring to it that someone else couldn’t. That’s a daunting challenge when you’re talking about one of the greatest plays in the English language.
What excites you about working on Betrayal?
Working with Mark and Tess is always exciting. They are two of the best actors in Atlanta, no question about it. And wait till you see the work that Anthony is doing in the show. It’s a character unlike any I’ve ever seen him play and just a few days into rehearsal, he’s already doing exquisite work. It’s also been a few years since I got to direct Tony in a meaty role and I always enjoy the chance to work with him. When you add into the mix that Betrayal is one of the five or ten greatest plays of the last century, then the question would be what’s NOT exciting about working on the show?
What should audiences expect from this production of Betrayal?
Great acting and great writing. It’s a rare treat to see a masterwork brought to life by a powerful cast like this one. And it’s the kind of play that will really get people talking.
